Scientific and technological progress. Information technologies

Nowadays science and technology are closely related. Many modern technologies such as nuclear power and space flights depend on science and the application of scientific knowledge and principles.

The basis of scientific and technological progress is new information technologies, which are very different from all the previous technologies. Thanks to up-to-date software and robots new information technologies can make many processes much faster and transmit information more quickly. It is very important today, because the quantity of information grows rapidly.

So, today in the lesson we will:

● talk about scientific and technological progress;

● talk about information technologies;

And

● put the knowledge into practice.

We are living in the modern world full of computers, automatic devices, cell phones, robots and many other interesting and useful things that technological progress has given us for usage. A few years ago people couldn’t even dream about time when it would be enough just to tap on a screen and get connected with the other person on the different end of the world.

Science has given us possibility to fly into space and step on the Moon, to start studying different parts of our galaxy and even farther. For example, due to Hubble telescope we can see wonderful pictures of our galaxy, planets and stars surrounding Earth.

Technology has considerably made our life easier due to different discoveries. For example, nowadays we can travel with extremely high speed in different directions. Many countries have high-speed trains, which help us to feel comfortable all the way.

Older people have different devices that have highly improved the level of their life such as special cars for driving or hearing aid that helps them to feel useful in the society.

Now look, everyone! This is Madison and she would like to tell you about other advantages of scientific and technological progress.

“Hi, I’m Madison and I think that scientific and technological inventions facilitate our lives and save our time. For example, computers help us do the most difficult sums and investigate complicated data. People do business, communicate and do the shopping due to the Internet.

It’s much easier to do housework nowadays thanks to electric equipment such as washing machines, dishwashers, fridges, vacuum cleaners, toasters and so on.

I also have to mention technologies used in medicine. They help save people’s lives or improve lives of those who suffered from accidents or were born with some health problems.

So, in my opinion, scientific and technological progress is very important in our life!”

Now look! This is Jason and he would like to tell you about the disadvantages of scientific and technological progress.

“Hi, I’m Jason and I think that scientific and technological inventions have a lot of negative sides. They make us lazier and weaker. For example, such technological developments as cell phones and the Internet have made communication much easier and, as a result, today our children spend more and more time texting their friends instead of meeting them in the streets. They prefer to live in their own virtual world.

Girls try to compete whose cell phone or tablet is better and more modern, or who has more friends on social networking services.

A lot of people are fond of watching TV and playing computer games. They spend hours in front of the screen. They have no time to read books or to communicate with their friends. They move less, speak less and they even think less. Of course, such way of life does much harm to their health.

In my view, if people want to continue developing technologies, they must do it wisely. Otherwise, they may regret in the future.”

We’ve talked about scientific and technological progress. Now…

Read the sentences below. Highlight the advantages of scientific and technological progress in green and the disadvantages in blue!

Let’s check the right answers!

The advantages are:

People do business, communicate and do the shopping due to the Internet.

Nowadays we can travel with extremely high speed in different directions.

It is much easier to do housework nowadays thanks to electric equipment.

Science has given us possibility to fly into space and step on the Moon.

Older people have different devices that have highly improved the level of their life.

The disadvantages are:

People nowadays move less, speak less and even think less.

Children spend more time texting their friends instead of meeting them in the streets.

Girls try to compete whose cell phone or tablet is better and more modern.

Children have no time to read books or to communicate with their friends.

Scientific and technological inventions make us lazier and weaker.

Now let’s talk about information technologies.

Information technology is the use of computers or other electronic equipment to create, store and send all kinds of electronic information.

Technology is developing rapidly. Artificial intelligence, automation and other advancements in information technology set the stage for more technological evolution. Robotics are becoming smarter and even our thermostats and fridges can be connected to the Internet.

In the 1990s and early 21^st century artificial intelligence achieved its greatest success. Today clever machines are taught to think and make decisions.

Computers and robots are very helpful. There are more and more jobs, which humans leave to robots such as exploring another planet, defusing bombs or just doing boring household chores like cleaning. Artificial intelligence can be used to control cars and planes, to give us the news or to compose music. Many factory jobs are performed by industrial robots nowadays.

Artificial intelligence has successfully been used in a wide range of fields including medical diagnosis, stock trading, robot control, law, scientific discovery and toys. To sum up, artificial intelligence serves to help people and make their lives easier.

The Internet has recently become another important source of information. It is a computer system that allows millions of people around the world to receive and exchange information about almost everything.

The main use of the Internet is to find information for your schoolwork or job or just to find out more about your hobbies, sports or current events. All the latest information is available to you at any hour of the day and night. It’s much faster and easier to surf the Net in search of information from all over the world than to travel to libraries in dozens of countries.

What is more, the Internet allows a lot of talented people to show the world their achievements.

We’ve talked about information technologies. Now…

Match the two parts of the sentences!

Let’s check the right answers!

1. Artificial intelligence serves… to help people and make their lives easier.

2. Today clever machines are… taught to think and make decisions.

3. Robotics are becoming smarter and even our… thermostats and fridges can be connected to the Internet.

4. Many factory jobs are performed by… industrial robots nowadays.

5. Artificial intelligence can be used to control… cars and planes, to give us the news or to compose music.

6. The Internet allows a lot of talented people… to show the world their achievements.

That’s all for now! In conclusion, I would like to say that it’s difficult to overestimate the role of science and technology in our life. They accelerate the development of civilization and help us in our cooperation with nature.