Diamonds are no longer a girl's best friend, according to a new U.S. study that found three of four women would prefer a new plasma TV to a diamond necklace. The survey, commissioned by U.S. cable television's Oxygen Network that is operated by women, found the technology gender gap has virtually closed with the majority of women snapping up new technology and using it easily. Women were found on average to own 6.6 technology devices while men own 6.9, and four out of every five women felt comfortable using technology with 46 percent doing their own computer trouble-shooting. "People make the assumption that women are not as advanced as men when it comes to technology and I was surprised at the parity men and women now have in terms of technology," Geraldine Laybourne, chairman and chief executive of Oxygen Network said. The Girls Gone Wired survey of 1,400 women and 700 men aged 15 to 49, which was conducted by market researcher TRU, found that given the choice, women would opt for tech items rather than luxury items like jewelry or vacations. The study found 77 percent of women surveyed would prefer a new plasma television to a diamond solitaire necklace and 56 percent would opt for a new plasma TV over a weekend vacation in Florida. Even shoes lost out. The study found 86 percent would prefer a new digital video camera to a pair of designer shoes. The study found over the next five years women see themselves increasing their activities in six tech areas: digital cameras, cell phones, e-mail, camera phones, text messaging and instant messaging. Laybourne said this increasing use of technology among women was expected to continue. (Agencies)

美国一项最新调查表明，钻石不再是女性的最爱了。四分之三的女性宁可要一台新等离子电视机，而不要钻石项链。 这项由女性经营管理的美国“氧气”有线电视网委托所做的调查发现，随着大多数女性购买新兴科技产品并能自如地运用它们，女性和男性在科技产品运用方面的差距几乎已经不存在了。 调查发现，女性平均每人拥有科技产品6.6件，而男性为每人6.9件。此外，五分之四的女性能自如地使用科技产品，46％的女性能够自己处理电脑故障。 “氧气”有线电视网主席、首席执行官杰拉尔丁·莱伯恩说：“人们总认为，在使用科技产品方面，女性不如男性‘先进’。而如今，女性和男性在这方面已经是'势均力敌'了，我感到很惊讶。” 此项名为“女性连接科技”的调查由TRU市场调查公司开展，共有1400名女性和700名男性参与，调查对象的年龄在15岁至49岁之间。调查发现，如果要选择的话，女性宁可选择科技产品，而不是奢侈品，如珠宝或假期。 调查发现77％的受访女性更想要一台新等离子电视，而不是钻石项链；56％的女性更青睐一台新等离子电视，而不愿周末去佛罗里达度假。 就连鞋子也受到了冷落。调查结果显示，与一双新款女鞋相比，86％的女性更希望得到一台新数码摄像机。 调查显示，在未来五年内，女性涉足越来越多的六大科技领域包括：数码相机、手机、电子邮件、可视电话、短信和网上即时通讯。 莱伯恩说，女性越来越多使用科技产品的趋势将持续下去。 (英语点津姗姗编辑)