I innovations
Task 1. Answer the following questions.
What is an innovation? How do you understand this word?
If necessary, use a dictionary to find a definition of innovations.
What role do innovations play in our life? Think of some innovations that has had the greatest influence on our lives.
Task 2. Work with your partner or in small groups of 3-4 people. Discuss the following questions.
What technology would you most like to see invented?
What technology would you most like to see disinvented?
What technological innovation is of most practical use in your home?
Which technological change has given the greatest benefit to society?
If you could only take one piece of technology to your Desert Island, what would it be?
Who should regulate the development of new technology?
Present the results of your discussion to the class.
II best and worst innovations
Task 1. Read this short article about innovations. Which of the following facts are true/false?
BBC Radio 4 has been asking listeners to vote for the most significant technological innovation since 1900.
According to the survey, the washing machine is people's favourite invention for the home.
The humble motorcycle beat such technological inventions as the internal combustion engine.
The survey was launched on Friday 1 December.
Experts from the field of science were not asked for their nominations.
The piece of technology that most people (26%) would like to see disinvented is GM foods.
The piece of technology that most people would like to see invented is the electromagnetic induction ring.
The number of people wishing to see nuclear power disinvented equals to 19% of the respondents.
25% of listeners voted for the electric cooker as the second most useful technological invention for the home.
As for the regulation of technological advancement, the majority of people said it should be down to the government of each country.
Task 2. Do you agree with the respondents? Why? Why not? Give your reasons.
Task 3. In no more than 12-15 sentences, summarize the information you learnt from the text.
BIKES ARE BEST AND GM FOOD THE WORST, SAY RADIO 4 LISTENERS
Since the beginning of April BBC Radio 4's You And Yours has been asking listeners to vote for the most significant technological innovation since 1800 and what they would most like to disinvent. The answers, revealed in tomorrow's programme (Thursday 5 May, 12.04pm) are the bicycle and GM foods. The washing machine emerged as listeners' favourite technological invention for the home.
The humble bike beat such technological innovations as electro-magnetic induction ring (which gave us the means to harness electricity), the internal combustion engine and the germ theory of infection (which gave rise to vaccination as we know it today).
The survey was launched on Friday 1 April on Radio 4's flagship consumer affairs programme, taking up the theme of this year's Reith Lectures: The Triumph Of Technology given by Lord Alec Broers. Experts from the field of science and technology as well as listeners were asked for their nominations.
The nominations included:
Bicycle
Communications satellite
Computer
Electro-magnetic induction ring
Germ theory of infection
Internal Combustion engine
Internet
Nuclear power
Transistor Radio
Visitors to the ‘You and Yours’ website were also asked to complete an online survey, designed to investigate attitudes towards technology.
Participants were asked which innovation they'd most like to disinvent (GM foods came top with 26% of the vote, followed by nuclear power at 19%).
The piece of technology that most people would like to see invented is an AIDs vaccine (35%) with interplanetary commuter transport lagging behind at 15%.
When it came to voting for a technological innovation that was of most use in the home, 34% of listeners voted for the washing machine, with central heating coming second with 25% of the vote.