Tag: technology

Takeaways from an AI Assistant Laughing on Its Own

C1 – Advanced

Some users have been creeped out by Alexa suddenly talking and laughing without being prompted any commands. Alexa is Amazon’s virtual AI assistant.

After some incidents were reported, Amazon immediately set out to find ways to prevent this from happening again in the future.

Read more on this news and take a look at some takeaways we can get from this whole fiasco. Click on the link below:

https://futurism.com/ai-assistant-amazon-alexa-laugh/

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think about this problem with Alexa?
2. Would you feel scared too if you heard your AI assistant performing tasks unprompted?
3. Do you use AI assistants? Why or why not?
4. Is it possible for robots to be smarter than how they were programmed?

Why Translation Technology Should Not Replace Learning Languages

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Trying to understand someone who does not speak your language could now be a thing of the past, thanks to some groundbreaking gadgets that claim to translate foreign languages in real-time. Imagine how easy it will be to communicate with people from any parts of the world without breaking a sweat. However, the rise of this technology should not replace learning languages and stop people from doing so.

Click the link below to know the most accurate reasons for that.

Translation Technology Should Not Replace Learning Languages

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the text, why should translation technology not replace learning languages?

2. What are your thoughts on translation technology?
How much do you rely on translation tools?

3. Besides English, what other languages are you learning or do you want to learn?

4. Give an example of a Spanish word, phrase, or idiom that is often mistranslated to other languages.

5. As you see it, should or should not translation technology replace learning languages?

What to Expect at the World’s Biggest Tech Show

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Have you ever been to a smart city before? Can you imagine living in a city where almost everything is operated by AI and technology?

In this year’s biggest tech show, there will be variety of advanced gadgets that you can find from TV to cars. It is expected to draw more than 170,000 people and there will be 4,000 exhibitors.

If you are curious like me, let’s read the full article below and discuss it later.

https://www.voanews.com/a/ces-las-vegas/4199977.html

Discussion:
1. What are your thoughts on the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas?

2. Which of the technologies featured in the article are you most excited about? Why?

3. Why do you think voice-controlled devices are becoming increasingly popular?

4. Would you like to be able to “order around” your household appliances? Why? Why not?

5. How do you feel about the prospect of “smartening up entire cities”?

Bitcoin just passed $8,000

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin provide people around the world new and innovative ways of engaging in legitimate commerce.The price of Bitcoin just passed $8,000 for the first time.

 

Click on the link to read the article and be ready to answer the questions that follow:

https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/20/bitcoin-just-passed-8000/

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is Bitcoin? What do you know about it?

2. Have you invested in Bitcoin? What are the advantages and disadvantages of Bitcoin currency?

3. Is Bitcoin the future or is just a gamble?

Digital Cloning

B1 – Intermediate

Cloning has long been a subject of debate since the year dot. Supporters of cloning claim that it is the answer to preventing endangered species from disappearing as well as allowing human beings to live healthier lives. But just recently, another form of cloning has come to rise – digital cloning, wherein a copy of your “self” will be created online.

Read this blog about digital heaven.

http://fullspate.digitalcounterrevolution.co.uk/english-articles-advanced/digital-heaven.html

Vocabulary Questions:

  1. What does “cease” mean, “Creating a digital copy of your “self” and keeping that “alive” online long after your physical body has ceased to function.”? Use it in a sentence.
  2. What does “insurmountable” mean, “The obstacles to keeping your body alive indefinitely still seem insurmountable.”? Use this word in a sentence.
  3. What does “virtual” mean, “Rather than send your friends e-mails you would agree to meet up on some virtual tropical beach.”? Use it in a sentence.

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think about ‘digital cloning’?
  2. Would you like to be cloned and/or digitally cloned? Why/why not?
  3. With this technological advancement, how do you see the future of humanity?
  4. What can you say about the the last statement-question ‘Who needs faith when you’ve got broadband’?

Can a Computer Teach Children to Read and Write?

B1 – Intermediate

Global XPrize aims to help the poorest children of the world to learn how to read and write by developing a user-friendly app.  They will test the winning app with thousands of children in Africa by using a tablet to learn.

Let us know your opinion after reading the full article and watching the video.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/can-a-computer-teach-children-to-read-and-write/4055194.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on the Global XPrize competition?
  2. Do you think that children will be able to teach themselves basic educational skills with only a tablet? Why or why not?
  3. Is the U.N.’s goal to provide “universal primary and secondary education by 2030” realistic? Why or why not?
  4. Do you think that computers will play a major role in education in the near future? Why or why not?
  5. Would you say that teachers are an essential part of the education system? Why or why not?

Customers’ Use of Fingerprint to Shop

B2 – Upper Intermediate

There’s a lot of talk these days about biometric-enabled systems for time and attendance and security access systems. Fingerprints are the most commonly known biometric. 

Read the article below to find out more about this identity recognition technology and be ready to answer the discussion questions.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/450428775/Almost-70-of-customers-willing-to-use-fingerprint-biometrics-to-shop

Discussion Questions:

  1. What payment system do you use in purchasing things?
  2. What are your thoughts on using fingerprint biometrics for shopping?
  3. Do you think consumer security is guaranteed using fingerprints? Explain.
  4. Would you like to continue using the traditional payment methods? Why or why not?
  5. Do you see biometrics as the future of identity verification? Why or why not?

What Computers Can’t Do

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Artificial Intelligence or AI is everywhere.  As a matter of fact, we use and deal with them every day. It may seem like science fiction is starting to become reality due to these machines’ ability to assimilate our behavior. However, machines can only perform human-like tasks so much. Currently, there are still some things that are difficult to get these machines to do.

Let’s listen to Neil and Tim talk about what machine thinking and the limitations artificial intelligence has at the moment.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english/ep-170928

Discussion Questions:

  1. What sorts of things do we take for granted that are cutting edge for machines?
  2. What do you think will the future of artificial intelligence be?
  3. How is artificial intelligence helping us today?
  4. What are the dangers of AI?
  5. What would our current lives be like without artificial intelligence?

A Day Without Internet

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are living an “always-connected lifestyle”. This means that we are constantly connected to the internet. With this level of dependency, try to imagine a day without it.

Read the article and find out what it would be like if the internet would be shut down for one day.

http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20170207-what-if-the-internet-stopped-for-a-day

Discussion Questions:
1. What do you think would happen if the internet stopped for a day? According to the article, what would happen if the internet stopped for a day?
2. How much do you use the internet?
3. What uses do you have for it?
4. What may be the advantages and disadvantages of a “kill switch”?
5. What do you do alternatively when you’re not online?

Google to Stop Searching Email to Sell Advertisements

 

© user: photo-mix / Pixabay / Public Domain
© user: photo-mix / Pixabay / Public Domain

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Do you ever wonder why the right products show up on the side of your screen whenever you open the Google website? They are secretly scanning and searching for our activities and match it with the products we would likely buy. For some, the thought of it is scary. No wonder human rights activists are concerned about it for years.

Read more about it here:

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/google-stop-scanning-ads-gmail/3916800.html

Discussion Questions:

1. What email service do you use? Why?
2. Do you find online ads useful or annoying? Why?
3. Why do you think Google is the most popular search engine?
4. Do you worry about your privacy when you browse the internet? Why? Why not?
5. Do you think that email scanning is an invasion of privacy? Why? Why not?