Tag: technology

Students Tackle Global Issues with Innovation

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Innovation in education encourages students to explore, research, and use all the tools to uncover something new. It involves a different way of looking at problems and solving them.

The right combination of an innovative approach and creative thinking can help students address humanity’s major challenges such as climate change, energy poverty and security, health security and disease, food and nutrition security, and ensuring safe access to water and sanitation.

Read this article on how students tackle global issues with innovation.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/12/21/students-tackle-global-issues-with-innovation

Discussion Questions:

  1. How have technological advances/innovations affected our lives?
  2. What do you think is the most interesting innovation mentioned in the article?
  3. Do you appreciate innovation or do you prefer the good old ways?
  4. Which is more important to you – innovation or hard work?
  5. What are some good innovation ideas?

Living Online

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We are now living in a technological era. Whether we like it or not, technology is slowly changing the way we live and work. As a result, we are spending more time online than ever before.

People are doing loads of things online. From watching videos to shopping, we spend a lot of our time on the internet. Some say it is so addictive that we do not realize we are already spending a worrying amount of time on it.

Click the link and listen to the audio to learn more about the life of people online.

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/advanced-c1-listening/living-online

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are some of the common activities we can do online?
  2. Do you agree or disagree that we should be equally worried about how much adults are becoming obsessed with online communication as much as teenagers?
  3. How do you communicate with your friends?
  4. Do you ever have FOMO? Share your experience.
  5. How do think the world would be without the internet?
  6. What are the pros and cons of online communication?
  7. What are your thoughts on being able to ‘stay in touch with everyone at the same time, all the time’?

Coca-Cola Trials Paper Bottle

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Until the last couple of years, the concept of a paper bottle would seem at best an oxymoron, but innovations continue to break barriers in the pursuit of packaging that offers sustainability benefits, ideally aligned with recycling.

Soft drink manufacturers are facing pressure on two fronts: the amount of sugar in their drinks and the amount of plastic waste their products produce. Coca-Cola is attempting to solve that second problem with the development and testing of a paper bottle.

Read the article below to learn more about Coca-Cola’s project on eliminating plastic from its packaging entirely.

https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-56023723

Discussion Questions:

  1. Are plastic bottles a problem in your country?
  2. Why are paper bottles better?
  3. What might be the technical challenges to the paper bottle?
  4. We rarely bought bottled water 50 years ago. Why do we buy so much today? Is it clever marketing by water companies?
  5. Would your life change much if all bottled water was banned?
  6. What do you do with the plastic bottles at your home?

Face To Replace Bank Card

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Face recognition is a technology capable of identifying or verifying a subject through an image, video, or any audiovisual element of his face. It simply requires any device that has digital photographic technology to generate and obtain the images and data necessary to create and record the biometric facial pattern of the person that needs to be identified.

Unlike other identification solutions such as passwords, verification by email, selfies or images, or fingerprint identification, Biometric facial recognition uses unique mathematical and dynamic patterns that make this system one of the safest and most effective. But are there data security and privacy issues that we should be worried about?

Let’s read the article to know more about facial recognition payment.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-55748964

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this new technology?
  2. Would you use facial recognition when making payments?
  3. What is your preferred way of paying for things?
  4. How important are notes and coins?
  5. What are the benefits of cashless payments? How about its dangers?
  6. How will facial recognition affect our data security and privacy?

Signal App

B1 – Intermediate

Messaging apps are applications that we can use for instant messaging. Many of such apps have been developed and are used by many around the world. The popularity of these apps greatly differs between countries.

Just like other messaging apps, Signal lets users send messages, make audio and video calls with their friends, and share photos, videos, and links. But how different is it from the leading apps like WhatsApp and Skype?

Listen to the audio and read the transcript about this new messaging app.

https://www.newsinlevels.com/products/signal-app-level-1

Discussion Questions:

  1. Have you heard of this app? What do you think about it?
  2. Why do you think Signal app is becoming popular?
  3. What is the most popular messaging app in your country? What are its features? Why is it popular?
  4. What feature is important for you in a messaging app?
  5. Why are this kind of apps necessary?

Millions Are Connecting with Chatbots and AI

C1 – Advanced

Not surprisingly, Lexico’s 2020 Word of the Year is “quarantine,” or “cuarentena” in Spanish. It has dominated headlines and people’s lives, and it will endure in the stories we tell our grandchildren many years hence.

Part and parcel of the whole pandemic experience is the loneliness and overall impact on mental well-being experienced by a populace told to shelter in place for days on end. Restrictions on movement and reduced hours outdoors have led some to turn to technology to assuage their isolation in the new normal. Whether it’s reconnecting with loved ones on WhatsApp or attending an online class on Zoom, various communication platforms have come front and center as sensible solutions.

Now consider Replika, an artificial-intelligence app that was popular even in pre-COVID-19 times. Millions of users consider this chatbot a virtual friend whom they can connect with and share their feelings.

Given the possiblity of new lockdowns due to spikes in COVID-19 infections, are more downloads in store for these kinds of smartphone applications?

Get to know the Replika phenomenon further by watching the video below.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Describe the possible contexts in which people would turn to AI for companionship?
  2. What possible use cases for bots like Replika are mentioned in the video? Can you think of other uses?
  3. Why do chatbot users sometimes prefer talking with their virtual friends rather the humans around them?
  4. Do you believe it’s truly possible to develop an emotional connection with a chatbot?
  5. What are some ethical considerations that arise as this technology continues to evolve?

Game Console Keeps Chicken Warm

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Fast food restaurant KFC has introduced a gaming console in partnership with Cooler Master. This machine is capable of running games at top-level specifications and features that you can heat your chicken pieces or keep it warm while you play intense gaming sessions.

Let’s read more about this gaming console in this article.

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/23/tech/kfc-games-console-chicken-scli-intl/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your opinion about this device?
  2. Do you think this gaming console is useful to gamers? What could possibly go wrong with using it?
  3. What do you think of the idea of KFC collaborating with Cooler Master? Is this some sort of a clever business gimmick?

Japan to Use Artificial Intelligence to Match Couples

B1 – Intermediate

Can you imagine yourself finding someone to be with in a relationship through the use of an AI software? Well, it is now possible.

Japan has recently started using an AI program to match couples in order to increase their birth rate, which is one of the lowest in the world.

Read the article for more information on AI matchmaking.

https://breakingnewsenglish.com/2012/201211-ai-matchmaking-1.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What do you think of this AI matchmaking program in Japan?
  2. Will this help the country address its problem on low birth rate?
  3. Do you have the same issue in your country? How has the government addressed this issue so far?
  4. Will your government be willing to spend much money to get men and women matched up using an AI technology?
  5. Would this be an effective tool for an ageing society?
  6. What are the pros and cons of this technology?

The World’s First Solar-Powered Airport

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Solar energy is the technology used to harness the sun’s energy and make it useable. Many are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity.

Let’s find out how an airport from India became the world’s first solar-powered airport.

https://www.english-online.at/news-articles/technology/worlds-first-solar-powered-airport.htm

Discussion Questions:

  1. What comes into mind when you hear the term ‘solar energy’?
  2. Are you interested in solar energy?
  3. What are the pros and cons of solar energy?
  4. Do you think buying solar panels for your home is a good investment?
  5. Do you think solar energy could solve the global warming problem?
  6. How can you save some energy in your everyday life?

New Device Puts Music in Your Head

B2 – Upper Intermediate

Move over, ear pods! Get out of the way, headsets!

Noveto Systems invented a device that sends sound directly to listeners. With this new technology, there is no need for headphones.

Are we soon going to bid ear pods and headsets farewell?

Watch the video, listen to the audio, and/or read the transcript about the new technology known as “sound beaming”.

https://learningenglish.voanews.com/a/new-device-puts-music-in-your-head-/5659759.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What is your reaction to this new technology?
  2. How do you like listening to your music? What device do you use in listening?
  3. Do you think that with this technology, we would eventually no longer have the need for headsets and such listening devices?
  4. What technology related to music do you want to see in the future?
  5. What gadgets / technology for music are popular in your country these days?