Unlocking Word Meanings
Read the following words/expressions found in
today’s article.
1. integration
(n.) [in-ti-grey-shuhn] – the process of combining or adding parts in order for something
to work well together
Example:
Our language professors are currently working on the integration of European and Asian languages in the new curriculum.
2. digital
(adj.) [dij-i-tl] – refers to data and information which are expressed
electronically
Example:
All financial reports submitted to the main office should be in a digital format.
3. interactive
(adj.) [in-ter-ak-tiv] – involving the communication or relationship between two
persons or things
Example:
Classroom discussions must be interactive
in such a way that both teachers and students can express their opinion.
4. analyst
(n.) [an-l-ist] – an expert on a field of study who carefully examines something
Example:
Mary is one of the applicants the manager is considering for the market analyst position.
5. telepathy
(n.) [tuh-lep-uh-thee] – a form of communication through the use of one person’s mind to
another without speech, writing or other signs or symbols
Example:
The comic book writer created a character whose special power is mental telepathy.
Article
Read the text below.
According to a new study, kids predict that future media and technology
will be an integration of digital and real world activities.
Latitude, an international research consultancy, asked kids from
different countries to answer the question, "What would you like your
computer or the Internet to do that it can’t do right now?” The results showed
that kids wanted technology to be more interactive
and applicable to their day-to-day lives.
Jessica Reinis, a senior research analyst
at Latitude, said that kids nowadays have a strong desire to learn by
themselves, and to create and be artistic.
They also want technologies that can teach them in many ways.
A majority of the young participants imagined technology to have more
human-like interactions in terms of words, gestures and even telepathy. One-third of the kids
wanted future technology to help them in developing adult knowledge or skills,
such as cooking or speaking another language.
In addition, other participants thought how future technology would
allow them to build better social connections.
According to founder and president of Latitude Steve Mushkin, kids today
see online technology as part of the real world, an idea already being worked
out in recent developments.
Viewpoint Discussion
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.
Discussion A
·
What
are the advantages and disadvantages of having human-like technology?
·
Can
human-like technology replace humans in performing certain tasks (e.g.,
replacing human teachers with robots)?
Discussion B
·
In
what ways has technology changed people’s lives?
Should people depend
too much on technology?