Tag: technology

Will Drones Transform Farmers’ Lives in Thailand?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Today’s technology is rapidly evolving and now with Unmanned Aerial Vehicle also known as a drone, our agriculture will soon be revolutionized.

Read the article below to know how Thai Agriculture could expand and evolve.

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/07/03/asia/bug-away-thailand-drones-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

1. How will drones transform agriculture?

2. What are the pros and cons of using drones?

3. What do you think are other uses of drones?

4. Would you like to have a drone? What are you going to use it for?

5. How has the agriculture sector changed in your country over the past years?

Pay Money to Become More Intelligent

B2- Upper Intermediate

What if you could make money or type something just by thinking about it? What if you could get richer, get healthier or even live longer? It sounds like science fiction, but it might be closer to reality than we think.

Super smart people could be walking down the street; men and women who’ve paid to increase their intelligence. Dr. Cerf believes we will be able to control our lives better if we have more control over our brains.

Listen to the audio about smart chips:

 

Read the transcript here: https://deepenglish.com/2019/04/become-more-intelligent/

 

Discussion Questions: 

1. Would you want to get a smart chip implanted on your brain?

2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of smart chips?

3. What will be the social implications of smart chips?

4. Will the smart chips create intelligence inequality?

5. What are some brain exercises that help enhance our intelligence?

 

Smart Speakers

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Smart speakers have been gaining popularity all over the world. We find convenience in using these devices as they listen to all our commands.

But how can we be sure that this mere ‘listening’ by these gadgets isn’t ‘spying’?

Listen to the discussion on smart speakers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190509

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you make of smart speakers?
  2. What are your thoughts on the possibility of you being spied on through your smart devices?
  3. Talk about your experience using a smart speaker or any smart device. If you aren’t using one yet, what are your reasons for not doing so?
  4. Tell us your experience eavesdropping.

Vampire Shopping

B2 – Upper Intermediate

One of the many things we can do on our laptops and smartphones is shopping. We can do it any moment of the day, even in the dead of the night. But is this a good thing to do?

Listen to this episode as the hosts talk about their shopping habits and vampire shopping.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-190530

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion on very late night shopping?
  2. What are the pros and cons of shopping online?
  3. Talk about your online shopping habits, experiences, and online shopping’s effects on you.
  4. Have you ever bought things you regretted or were ashamed of?
  5. Have you ever gotten sucked into something?

Can You Really Trust Online Reviews?

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Nowadays, everyone plasters their opinions over the internet. No longer do we have to wait for experts to give their stamp of approval on hotels, online stores (Amazon), |Trip Advisor and so many others as it had literally millions of reviews of anything we could think of because anybody could write what they think online. The big question is, how reliable could these reviews be in influencing our decision-making process in purchasing products online.

Watch the video and be ready to answer the questions that follow.

 

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your opinion on online reviews?
2. Do you read reviews online to help you make decisions?
3. Have you ever made a fantastic discovery out of a review online?
4. What kind of reviews do you trust and those that make you skeptical?
5. Share your good/bad experience with online reviews.

San Francisco Bans Facial Recognition Software

B1 – Intermediate

Facial recognition is biometric technology. It works by getting a picture of a person and then using that photo to identify the individual through facial analytics. The results are then compared to existing photos in the database.

Facial recognition systems are commonly used for security purposes. But in San Francisco, the police cannot use it anymore.

Read the article below to know more about this ban on facial recognition software.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1905/190517-big-brother-1.html

Discussion Questions:

1. Why was facial recognition software banned in San Francisco?
2. What are the pros and cons of facial recognition?
3. Do you agree or disagree that facial recognition software is Big Brother technology?
4. What is your opinion on prohibiting facial recognition technologies?
5. How does the police maintain security in your city?

Japan’s Robot Hotel

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Japan is a world leader in robotics technology, and the government is trumpeting robotics as a pillar of its growth strategy.  The Henn na – or Weird Hotel – has opened in Japan where guests check in with robots which also deliver their luggage to their rooms. Another feature is facial recognition technology, so instead of the standard electronic keys, a digital image of the guest’s face is registered during check-in.

Watch the video and discuss the questions that follow:

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of a hotel staffed by robots?
  2. Would you like to check-in in this type of accommodation?
  3. What do you think are the advantages and disadvantages of having robots as staffs in a hotel?
  4. What is the most surprising and exciting things that you have ever experienced in a unique or strange hotel?

Passwords to Be Replaced by Web Authentication

B1 – Intermediate

IT experts believe passwords are not as effective as before. Threats to our online accounts are becoming stronger. We need a stronger and simpler login process.

Read more about the more secure login system.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1904/190401-web-authentication-4.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What is Web Authentication? What are the good and bad things about it?
2. Which do you think is stronger: biometrics or passwords? Talk about the good and bad things for each.
3. What are ways to make your online accounts e.g. bank, social media etc. passwords strong?

Viral Video

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We see it everyday; people sharing, retweeting, reposting images, videos or even just texts on social media. Most would do it for humour and entertainment. How does an online material get viral? What drives netizens to share them?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170817

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do people share materials on social media?

2. What are high arousal emotions?

3. What kinds of videos or links do you usually share on social media?

Lie Detector Tests at Airports

B1 – Intermediate

When passing immigration at airports, immigration officers ask to see your passport and travel documents. They also ask questions about your trip.

In some European countries, they are trying a computer-generated border officer.

Find out more about the computerized border guards.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/1811/181105-lie-detector-tests-1.html

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about using a lie detector machine at the airports?
2. What do you think are the good and bad things about using this technology?
3. Talk about your experience/s with immigration at airports.