How much has technology improved how we communicate with each other

Will Longhini

How Technology Has Changed The Way We Communicate

The ever-changing realm of technology has always fascinated the world, and how new advances in technology have helped shape the way people communicate with one another. Technological developments have changed the way we connect to others and we have adapted the rules of communication to work with these changes.

Debating whether or not all these new advances in communication technology are good or bad seems to be the hot topic. Walking down the street to classes, I see a lot of students with their heads down looking at a phone screen with their fingers moving at a furious pace. We are communicating all the time, and not in the sense that “one cannot not communicate” by nonverbal expressions and the clothes we wear. People are interacting with one another twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, on an interpersonal level.

Technology allows us to stay connected to everyone we know, ones we don’t, and some that we don’t expect to interact with again. One of the strongest ways technologies have shaped relational development and interpersonal communication is how people in long-distance relationships can stay in touch and continue to be in a relationship, be it friends or romantic. Leaving for college was a stressful experience, especially in terms of leaving all of my high school friends behind and moving away from my girlfriend at the time. Facebook has provided a method to stay in touch with friends from home as we experience different things at different colleges across the country. When we do interact in a face-to-face (FtF) manner during holiday breaks, we’re able to talk about pictures posted of one another, and share in real-time those experiences when we’re not with them.

Social media has also allowed people to better be able to manage a greater number of friends and interactions with others. In an ever-increasing transient culture, especially in college, being able to stay connected to the multitudes of people one meets at a party or having the ability to share clarifications on certain topics while studying for an exam, technology has opened more doors than shut them.

Another way developments in technology have shaped interpersonal communication is expanding upon the social penetration theory, and allowing people to explore the onion model in new ways. When on a date, face-to-face communication is nice, as we can see emotions and we trust, maybe more so than online, that the discussions are genuine and sincere. The problem with a date is that it has an expiration. With the explosion of text messaging and social media, a “date” can continue for a longer period of time. Technology, such as texting, allows people in a relationship to explore more topics, and once communicating face-to-face, they’re able to bring up the same topics and discuss in further detail and drill down to more core values of the topic.

Implications of the increasing use of text messages, in terms of romance, courtship, and uncertainty reduction, is technology doesn’t always provide an “end”, like a date does communicating in a FtF manner. After a date ends and continuous texting begins, there is no end unless someone stops responding or falls asleep. It’s a tough call, deciding on who should respond last or have the final say, even after one has said a final “goodnight”. The ability to fire off any random thought can be very powerful, both in terms of good and evil.

Is the way dating used to be done inefficient? Did it become old and tired? Is technology the sole factor in changing the way we date?

It seems to me that no one in college strictly dates anymore. Dates are reserved for couples that are already in a relationship, and really more of a formality than anything. The mentality behind it is, “I’m dating you, and so I have to take you on a date because that’s what we’re supposed to do.” Dating isn’t used to get to know someone or to show interest.

Dates are great for couples in a relationship, but I think dates should be great for those not in a relationship. We should get excited about dating again. The first thing we have to do is redefine what dating is in the year 2011. Now, if a guy is looking for a date, it takes a few seconds to compose a text message, and it can be sent to a group of potential suitors all at once. He’s able to pick and choose his best bet. This whole thing happens usually at two points during the night:

Around 8:30-9pm, when looking for something to do that night

Between 11:30pm-1:30am, at a crowded bar Uptown, still determining which woman is the best potential for hooking up with

There is a problem that may be caused by the use of texting and Facebook chat, and that is the speed of which questions are asked and topics are changed. Being able to fire off question after question is great for trying to learn a lot of different things about a person, but there may never be deep conversations about most of the topics because there are limitations to technology, such as an SMS message only allowing 160 characters. These limitations may not be of great concern in the beginning of relationships, or relationships that are not of the romantic variety, but often in a meaningful relationship there needs to be times when conversations reach the core of the onion and deeper values are discussed and expressed.

There is research to suggest that computer mediated communication (CMC) is more effective than FtF due to restrictions such as emotions and nonverbal messages. Tidwell and Walther documented CMC and FtF couples engaging in their first meetings and discovered that CMC partners displayed more self-disclosures and greater intensity leading to quicker relational development (Maintaining Relationships Through Communication, 147-148). Implications of this research may describe situations where relational partners begin communication online and intimacy levels increase quickly due to the more direct nature of CMC, and then transition to more FtF communication with CMC used as a relationship-nurturing tool. The more similarity that can be assessed through CMC, the less uncertain the relational development is, the easier to transition to face-to-face communication.

One criticism that has been brought up about the use of technology in developing relationships is that people can hide behind the technology wall. One may be more comfortable interacting with another through text messages, instead of face-to-face. Options like SMS messages and instant messaging are great in the way that they allow users to open up and be more social, but when the time comes to interact in a face-to-face manner, the walls may come down and the quality of interaction may drop. Research has shown that the more perceived privacy a technological communication tool has, the more disclosure one is willing to share (When is trust not enough?, 1123). A man more comfortable communicating with a potential female suitor via text may disappoint her if he violates her expectations based on the interactions they had through the use of technology.

Along the same point, technological developments allow users to create a separate identity. Social media and texting can be both synchronous and asynchronous communication methods, either happening in real-time or delayed. When it is synchronous, instant messaging can be more like face-to-face communication. However, when communication through technology is asynchronous, such as email or text message, the users have time to craft a message that is trying to put their best foot forward. Again, it may be viewed as a con in the sense that by thinking about a response and having the ability to erase and rewrite, it’s removing the genuine and raw emotion of instantaneous responses. The reverse of that is users think more about what they are saying and interactions and responses are more genuine because they have taken the time to really think about it.

Problems occurring when using various methods of technology to communicate with the same person is the ways one uses a particular method over the other. Face-to-face communication may be the only time serious topics are discussed, or when trying to fix relational problems. On the other hand, text messages may be reserved for playful communication and flirting. Problems happen when particular communications from one medium cross over to the next (The Breakup 2.0). Messages reserved for one medium that come across in a different one are at odds with one another, and it takes additional follow-up to decipher the real meaning, and how to interpret received messages. A way to nurture and future-proof a relationship that is built around communication technologies is to communicate all kinds of messages through multiple means, not reserving one type of message for a particular medium and other messages to another.

Taking a step outside of the mainly romantic realm of interpersonal communication and technology, technological developments have opened almost endless possibilities for people to find others who have similar interests as them, no matter how out there or niche. Online communities, such as message boards and Facebook groups, allow users to find one another and provide a space for them to discuss things like the latest episode of How I Met Your Mother or Chicago Blackhawks hockey, no matter how far apart. Research by Dimmick has demonstrated that technology has interpersonal uses in the same way as FtF communication, but also those just of entertainment and information seeking (Communication Technology and Social Change, 43). The challenge is deciding if someone is choosing to interact with message boards for pure entertainment or to build relationships with other users.

The biggest question is, does the increased use of technology diminish the role of relational development and detach interpersonal communication between people? I’ve often thought that technology has weakened communication to an extent, especially in terms of the way “it used to be.” I hate talking on the phone, so I avoid talking on the phone at all costs. My parents think that I need to talk on the phone every once in awhile to friends and girlfriends, but I think the phone call is inefficient. Having said that, with the increasing role of technology in our relational development, people must learn to adapt.

David Brooks, in his piece “For many, cell phones have made courtship fluid”, contends that there are fewer rules now in regards to social commitments and more fluid commitments. I don’t feel there are fewer rules, but I believe that the rules have changed. A criticism of electronic forms of communication is the lack of emotion or misinterpreted tone in messages. Users have adapted to those criticisms by adding emoticons and instead of beating around the bush, communicators must get to the point more quickly (Maintaining Relationships Through Communication, 148-149). The same criticisms came about with the introduction and adoption of the telephone, with people believing it would replace face-to-face communication (Maintaining Relationships Through Communication, 142). The world survived the telephone scare, and can adopt new rules of using more technology to communicate with one another.

Brooks does have a valid point when describing that through the use of technology, society is emphasizing “I-It” relationships. I contend, however, that all of society’s interactions are moving toward “I-It” and modular relationships. Technology is just falling in line with the way society runs. People are able to send messages to larger groups of people at the same time, looking for a suitor for the night or just someone to get a drink with or enjoy a movie. It could be viewed as just a means to an end, but isn’t that the point of all communication? People need to communicate, and if technology allows them to accomplish that, it doesn’t seem to be wrong, just different from before.

There are however times when technology seems to have more quickly transitioned or allowed our culture to accept “I-It” relationships, in negative ways. One striking example of this is the increase in online infidelity. Whitty’s study on Internet infidelity showed that many people don’t see online “cheating” as actual infidelity. The interactions they have online, or through text messages, are simply an escape from the reality of being locked into a relationship or done merely for fun flirtation (Truth, Lies and Trust on the Internet, 94-96). Again, the notion of “I-It” and only engaging as a means to satisfy an end can be considered a downfall of technological relational development.

Technology will continue to be the driving force behind many of the ways people interact with one another. New advancements make communicating quicker, easier, and more efficient, but it also allows us to stay connected to one another more often, with larger groups of people. People have always fought technology and feared it diminishing the ways of old, but eventually the new ways become accepted and the norm, and there isn’t much discussion. The same goes with how technology has evolved interpersonal communication, and we, as users, must adapt, instead of fighting it. The one thing users have to remember is, there is always a time and a place for a text message or Facebook status update, but there always will still be a time and a place for sitting down at a bar or at the kitchen table and having a face-to-face conversation. The world will continue to find it difficult to manage and separate, but the future is bright, especially if I am able to share this paper or a personal blog post with hundreds of Facebook friends and Twitter followers and strike up a conversation online about it, and then progress it to further and more core discussions face-to-face.

How Technology Has Changed Our Lives

Technology has made our lives convenient and useful by changing the way we complete our daily life activities. Not only has it made everything faster but also comfortable. And as we are moving forward in our lives, technology is also improving. Wherever we look, we will find ourselves surrounded by technology, so we can’t deny that we are dependent on one or another form of technology. If we talk about how technology has changed our lives for the better, the list of benefits won’t end here. Technology changes the world in many ways, and this article has focused on the primary area of our daily life improved by technology.

As we move further and elaborate on how has technology changed our lives positively, we mustn’t forget every coin has two sides, and so has modern technology. It has brought some advantages and disadvantages to our lives. If it has connected us to the world instantly, it has also exposed us to the threat of cybercrimes, identity stealing, etc.

Impact of Modern Technology on Communication

In the old days, we had telephones to connect with people living on the other side of the world. But technology in today’s world has changed how we communicate with others and use different platforms for this purpose. Presently, we have a more evolved form of communication for sharing information with others.

Drawback – Technology has made us closer to the world, but the distance between the people living under the same roof has widened. People get together to meet up but end up using their cellphones instead. They know how to take pictures and share them on social media but don’t know how to have a genuine conversation.

Impact of Modern Technology on Our Social Lives

Technology has changed our lives and made the world a smaller place by changing how we communicate with others. We now have different platforms like Facebook, Instagram, etc. that gives us exposure to the rest of the world. We can also access these platforms through various devices to make connections more instant. It has not only changed how people connect online but also how they form a relationship.

Drawback – Today, people are more active on social media platforms where they share every data from personal details to the current location. The hackers or cybercriminals are always on the lookout for these data and can misuse them to exploit the victim.

Impact of Modern Technology on Our Lifestyle

When it comes to how technology changed our lives, technological advancements have put everything at our fingertips by making our modern life more convenient. It has also made it possible to find the nearest restaurant, dining area, hotel, etc. We can even book movie tickets and shop online for food or other essentials. The Internet of Things has also made it possible to access everything from any part of the world.

Drawback – The availability of these services at home has made people more dependent on technology. They no longer want to go out to dine and meet new people.

You are reading how technology has affected our lives. Don’t forget to read our previous article, the impact of technology in our daily life.

Impact of Modern Technology on Financial Transactions

With the advent of technology, many platforms are now available for fund transfer. Technology in today’s world has made it possible for us to transfer money and pay bills using our handheld devices (like smartphones) at our home’s ease. Many banks and other financial institutes have also introduced their official apps for providing a safe way of online transactions. We can even set monthly reminders for payment on these apps.

Drawback – It is hard to break through the security of online banking systems and hack accounts, but it is not impossible. Also, you can’t transfer a huge sum of money through online transactions. If you ever faced an emergency, you have to go to the bank and take out cash.

Impact of Modern Technology on Our Security

Technology has also made us safer by providing us with different security measures. These advanced security systems are now used everywhere, from home to offices. These devices are easy to install, need minimum maintenance, and can be accessed from anywhere.

Drawback – No matter how robust and reliable our security system is, a hacker or intruder can still find a flaw to exploit someone’s privacy. A study shared by Statista in 2019 found hacking as the most common way of a data breach. Additionally, the average global cost of a data breach in the financial industry was approx. 5.85 million U.S. dollars in 2020.

Impact of Modern Technology in the Healthcare Sector

Today’s technology has some significant contributions in the field of health. A person can analyze or directly consult a doctor while sitting at his home. Smart devices like smartwatches or bracelets and health apps have made us healthier and improved our quality of life.

Drawback – Technology has changed our lives by providing easy access to healthcare facilities but removed actual medical encounters. The doctor and patient don’t share a bond of compassion and understanding when everything is digital. Additionally, the diagnosis of disease and symptoms are more accurate in-person than digital.

Impact of Modern Technology in Data Management

Technology in today’s world has made data storage and retrieval easier with all the documents present online. A user can also access these files and retrieve information quickly from any device (personal computer, laptop, smartphones, etc.). In olden times, we used to prepare on-paper files and documents for storing different data, which was often a hectic process, especially during the retrieval of information.

Drawback – Technology changes the world in many ways but also brings disadvantages with them. The biggest drawback here is the availability of all the documents (personal to financial) in one place. An individual or company can lose all its data and customer trust if a hacker gets access to even a single account.

Impact of Modern Technology on Entertainment

Technology nowadays has made everything smarter, from phones to television, and we are no longer dependent on anyone source for entertainment. We have different apps like YouTube and devices like smart TV to enhance our experience even more. The TV in olden times was huge, heavy box-like sets with smaller black and white screens. Additionally, people used to buy cassette tapes or CD/DVDs to play audio or watch any video. These disc drives had limited space, short life, and were harder to maintain.

Drawback – The drawback of having this advanced technology is that we now have more means of distraction. Due to easy access, children find excuses to watch Tv and end up wasting more time online. It has also affected their ability to stay focused for long hours.

Impact of Modern Technology in Travel Sector

Today’s technology is changing the world, and it plays a significant role in how the travel industry works in today’s era. The apps like Google map or Google earth make it convenient for drivers to find the fastest route, locate, and drop the passenger quickly at his destination.

Drawback – Technology has made it possible to travel and explore new areas without going through much hassle. But due to our increased reliance on technology, people no longer use their instinct or enjoy their surroundings; instead, they stay buried in their mobile phones.

Impact of Modern Technology in Agriculture Sector

Technology nowadays has also improved ancient farming practices. Modern methods used along with the machinery reduce the per manual labor cost while increasing crop production rate and quality. As farming methods are becoming automated, farmers can now produce abundant food to satisfy the growing population’s demand.

Drawback – The machines and equipment used in the farms are not always affordable and need high maintenance. Plus, the excessive use of machinery may lead to environmental damage and reduce soil fertility in the long term.

Takeaway

Great, now you know how technology has changed our lives for the better. Do you have any ideas on how will technology change our lives in the future? Please comment.

How Has Technology Improved Communication?

Technology has brought about unprecedented changes in this world. Gone are the days when people used to travel on horses and camels from one place to another. The invention of the automobile has changed the notions of transportation. Similarly, the concept of communication has evolved radically since Graham Bell invented the first telephone. Technology and communication are two sides of the same coin. Technology in communication is affecting us in so many ways. Do you know how technology has improved communication and how technology improves communication?

Technology is volatile, hence a progressive thing. It keeps on changing and rapidly moving forward. We have reached a point where instant communication anywhere in the world is a possibility. We are witnessing the pinnacle of globalization, and no one knows what else is to come. Nevertheless, technology has positively impacted the sector of communication in numerous ways. The following points are indicative of the fact of how advancement in technology aids in improving communication.

Technology Improves Communication

Technology and advances in communication are changing our world. Let’s see how technology has improved communication.

How Does Technology Improve Communication in Daily Life

1. Better Interaction

Communication is instant now. It is how technology has affected communication in the modern world. We were expected to wait for several days and even months to receive a reply from the other side in earlier times. This modern era has eliminated this requirement. Technology has come up with new ways of communication; online means being the most prevalent one. It is common to meet people of different cultures and communities on online forums and instantly communicate with them. Chat rooms and discussion forums enable people to meet each other without having to be there in person. This has given them much more flexibility when it comes to dealing with social anxiety. Online relationships are now becoming a social norm.

Social media platforms Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, etc., are examples of how communication has changed. It allows people to connect with anyone globally. It also allows people to show their skills and creativity to the whole world. Some people also use the platforms to voice their opinions and raise concerns over a specific issue; sometimes, they can read the news, get informed, and learn different skills online. It has also enabled students to study online and communicate with their teachers without going anywhere. In our previous article, you can read more about how technology has changed education.

2. Speed

Speed is clearly the biggest improvement communication has experienced through technology. Modern communication is instant. You receive the message the other is trying to convey within milliseconds. Wireless signals, satellites, undersea cables, and other advanced technology helps communication by ensuring instant messages and other forms of data to any location on the planet. It also means the user doesn’t have to be physically present at specific places like the post office or mail room. Instead, he can send the message from the comfort of his home or anywhere his phone finds a signal.

Initially, users sometimes faced problems sending and receiving messages via mobile phones. But as the technology improved, internet speed/strength also increased with time and still improving every day. Even people in remote areas are connected with the world. People are virtually connected, which is a result of improved communication systems.

3. Reliability

Electronically transmitting these messages is much more reliable than using physical letters. Chatting apps are a norm now, which eliminates the possibility of an error happening in the transmission. As long as data lines are secure, you can rely on your device to convey the message on the other side. However, it can get hindered due to glitches and errors from weather conditions or human faults.

There is one risk of hackers trying to steal data and information shared on communication platforms. However, most messaging platforms like WhatsApp come with end-to-end encryption, making it hard for the developers to decrypt them.

4. Easy Self Service

Another example of technology improving communication includes easy self-service. It allows customers to order products using voice commands on IoT quickly. They can also try out the products using augmented reality without interacting with company associates and employees. Most information and queries related to products and services are available easily on the company’s website. The customer can seek an answer by visiting the forum or knowledge base on the website. Some companies also provide video tutorials, articles, walkthrough guides, onboarding emails, etc.

How Technology Has Affected Communication in Business

5. Reach A Larger Audience

Communication mediums these days have also impacted the corporate sector. Businesses are continually availing technology to improve the productivity and creativity of their employees. A large part of online communication is done publicly through social media. Internet access can allow businesses to reach a wide audience sector, enabling them to market their products more effectively. The online platforms have also helped companies save a large amount of money invested in a television commercial.

The companies can now invest in smaller ads that show up on different video platforms like YouTube. They have to pay smaller amounts for these short videos. Alternatively, they can create their official creative pages and accounts on various social media platforms and organically reach the audience. Businesses and the media sector can now communicate their urgent or emergency messages with immediate effect. It has minimized the possibility of delays. Technology helps communication and media advertisements to reach a larger audience.

6. Marketing

Technology improves communication and is improving rapidly every day. Smartphone users have been increasing and have now marked 3.8 million users in 2021, as stated by Statista. If a company wants to reach this audience and beat its competitor, it can’t rely on a traditional marketing way. The competition in marketing has increased significantly, given the number of methods available to reach the target audience. Some trending ways include SMS marketing, paid Facebook and YouTube ads, email marketing, app ads, Google ads, banner ads, game ads, full-screen/interstitial ads, and sticky ads.

Companies must keep with the trend and regularly update messaging strategies due to constant technology and advertisement changes. Technology has allowed companies to understand how certain tones appeal to different groups of people. Hence, it has changed the way the company communicates with its audience. Popular appeals that people appreciate include humor, personal, sexual, romantic, fear, musical, beauty, adventure, and emotional.

7. Public Relations

Public Relations managers are professionals who maintain a company’s or individual’s public image. The accessibility of the Internet and social media platforms has made the maintenance of public relations more challenging. The reputed companies and celebrities are usually more vulnerable to the public. People can instantly share anything done by them by clicking pictures, shooting videos, taking screenshots, and uploading it on the Internet. The social media platforms make these viral shots accessible to everyone. Additionally, people can quickly post their views and discuss companies and celebrities independently. It makes them more susceptible to negative sentiments.

These challenges brought by the Internet and technology makes public relation managers work even harder. They have to learn the ways to communicate with the audience to maintain and earn a client. Some of their tasks include:

8. Remote Work

With the quick advancements in technology, we can say now almost everyone carries a smartphone or a computer. It gives an advantage where the employees can use their personal devices to improve their in-office work or work from home. Given this factor, many companies have now implemented policies allowing employees to bring their own device or use it to work remotely. It can increase productivity by giving employees access to work from any location.

However, this feature comes with some disadvantages, such as the risk of data breaches and information security. If the company implements this policy, it must prepare the IT department/vendor and the management team to review and manage employees’ devices. Nevertheless, it can prevent security risks and unauthorized access to the company’s secrets. With regular devices audits, the company can successfully use personal technology and benefit itself.

9. Workplace Communication

Technology improving communication tools which are making collaboration between the employees more comfortable. Opportunity for teamwork and cooperation has become seamless given different features offered by various platforms like video chatting, presentation making, and other SaaS programs. Technology helps communication along with increasing employees’ productivity, efficiency, and morale. Read the points below to know how technology has improved communication:

10. Automated Communication

Automated communication can help small companies and entrepreneurs level up with any large company. This feature is significant for a company or startup when it lacks resources and time to communicate with its customers. Using automated communication can significantly boost a company’s productivity. The company can use these features in two ways –

Disadvantages of Communication Technology

Technology improves communication in many ways. Despite all advantages, it has brought some drawbacks as well. It can become a hindrance to effective communication.

Conclusion

Technology is an ever-evolving concept. History indicates that technology has been continually expanding, which is highly beneficial for better communication. However, claiming that communication is at its highest peak can be a wrong statement. Every other day a new form of the messaging application comes into existence. This article clearly shows that there is a larger room for improvement. Let us know your views on how technology has improved communication.

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IELTS Speaking Test # 107

IELTS Speaking Test # 107

Part 1 Topic: «Age».
Part 2 Topic: «Describe a time when you started using a new technological device».
Part 3 Topic: «Technology and education» & «Technology and society».

[This part of the test begins with the examiner introducing himself or herself and checking the candidate’s identification. It then continues as an interview. In the interview, the examiner asks the candidate about his/her home, work or studies and other familiar topics.]

Topic: «Age».

Q. Are you happy to be the age you are now? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I sure am happy to be the age I am now primarily because it has allowed me to understand about the world around me in a new light. In fact, as I actually come to think about it, I am so happy just to be alive because life is a gift, no matter what age I really am.

Q. When you were a child, did you think a lot about your future? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: No, for better or worse, I never really thought a lot about my future because I have always felt that I shouldn’t think about something which I don’t know or which I don’t see. Besides, I have always been one of those persons who have liked to live in the ‘present’ without worrying about my adulthood.

Q. Do you think you have changed as you have got older? [Why/Why not?]
Answer: Yes, I would like to think that I have changed significantly, as I have grown older, and the priorities in life have changed and so has the way I act and behave. Besides, I have also become more confident, both physically and mentally, about my life and future as I have grown older.

Q. What will be different about your life in the future? [Why?]
Answer: There possibly will be a couple of significant changes in my life in the near future. First, I will be moving to a bigger city for better employment opportunities in the future once I finish my studies. Besides, I am also planning to be more careful about my diet and physical health since I am a bit thin for my age now. Moreover, after I have a job, I will probably get married after a couple of years later and have kids of my own. This will change so many things and aspects of my lifestyle.

[The topic for your talk will be written on a card which the examiner will hand over to you. Read it carefully and then make some brief notes.]

Describe a time when you started using a new technological device (e.g. a new computer or phone).

and explain how helpful this device was to you.

[You will have to talk about the topic for one to two minutes. You have one minute to think about what you are going to say. You can make some notes to help you if you wish.]

[Examiner: All right? Remember you have one to two minutes for this, so don’t worry if I stop you. I’ll tell you when the time is up. Can you start speaking now, please?]

Model Answer:
Up until recently, I have avoided buying and using any smartphones primarily because they cost a bit too much money (for an ‘economic’ person like me), and it would not feel convenient because of their large size to carry them in my pocket. But, that all changed when I found out that I was missing some of the “greatest” moments of my family life because of not having a smartphone.

Anyway, it was actually a few months ago, that I felt the need for buying a smartphone, when my sister wanted me, while riding on a bus in the road, to see the live video of her 10 months old little angel (my niece) walking for the first time except, of course, she totally forgot that I didn’t have a smartphone to see and capture the ‘special moments’. I felt really bad at that time, to say the least, and immediately decided to buy a smartphone. Luckily, I found a great phone at a discounted price because the phone store had some kind of “sale” going at that time. However, in the beginning, it was not really that easy to use my smartphone, because of its “touch screen”, which wasn’t always easy to manoeuvre unlike the “buttons” of a regular mobile phone. Besides, it would make calls ‘automatically’, while still in my pocket, because of its very ‘sensitive’ touch screen if I was not handling it in a careful manner.

But, now, after the initial difficulties in handling the phone, I find my new beautiful gadget to be really handy and useful. First, it allows me to communicate with my friends and families very easily by using the internet feature on the machine. Besides, I can also see my family members live on the video while also talking to them at the same time when I am away from them. Then, it also allows me to download and listen to some new music, when I am on the road, in order to keep the “travel fatigue” at bay. Finally, it also allows me to take pictures of ‘special moments’ when I am with my family and friends.

Discussion topic: «Technology and education»

Q. What is the best age for children to start computer lessons?
Answer: Some experts suggest it is best for children to start computer lessons when they are around 4/5 years old. However, at this age, children should only be introduced to doing basic things such as how to turn on and off a computer, or how to open up one of their favourite pieces of “children’s software” or “games”. Besides, whatever they do or “learn” on a computer at this age, they should do so only in the ‘spirit’ of having fun, not some “serious learning”, in order to ensure proper cognitive development.

Q. Do you think that schools should use more technology to help children learn?
Answer: No, I don’t really think that schools should use any more (even though the idea of “more” can be a subjective issue) technology to help children learn because that will make them “overly” dependent on “technology”. And once they are “overly” dependent on technology, they will not learn from “the environment” around them. Besides, using too much technology to help children learn may disconnect them from social interactions which are absolutely vital for proper cognitive development. Finally, using too much technology can actually distract children from learning necessary and important “real lessons”.

Q. Do you agree or disagree that computers will replace teachers one day?
Answer: I disagree with the suggestion that computers will, or should, replace teachers one day because no matter how smart a computer is, because of things like “Artificial Intelligence” it will never be able to understand the “human factor” of the children. And, if it doesn’t understand the “human factor”, it will never be able to become an “effective teacher”. Of course, computers can always remain on the “side” as a trusted tool or helping hand, but it’s the teachers who mentor the students and make them laugh and encourage academic passion among them by being a ‘relational being’, unlike a computer or machine. After all, for better or worse, there is something in this world which can’t be replaced by some “machines”, and “human teachers” just happen to be one of those things.

Discussion topic: «Technology and society»

Q. How much has technology improved how we communicate with each other?
Answer: Technology has “revolutionized” the way we communicate with each other. With things like mobiles, smartphones and computers, communication has become very easy, quick and convenient. Besides, with internet technologies, today we can send a huge amount of data and information by using the email and other “instant messenger” services. Finally, we can also see each other live on the video while talking to each other also at the same time, even if we live in one corner of the world, courtesy to the advanced modern technology.

Q. Do you agree that there are still many more major technological innovations to be made?
Answer: Yes, I do agree with the suggestion that many more major technological innovations to be made primarily because the world and its people are constantly facing challenges, such as environmental pollution, lack of fuel energy and drinking water crisis, which need immediate attention. Besides, even if we believe for a second that the world is facing no challenges, people would still come up with the new ideas and discoveries because it is just in our human nature to improve on the existing condition in which we live.

Q. Could you suggest some reasons why some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology?
Answer: Technology certainly has improved our lives, but unfortunately, it is not without some of the negative effects, for which, some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology. One such negative effect is that technology is making us “lethargic” because we are not doing even the simplest of the things on our own. Besides, some people are also becoming alarmed (rightly or wrongly) about the radiation effects on human bodies which are forcing them to reduce the use of technology. Finally, some people believe that the use of technology has detrimental effects on our environment and they want to decrease the use of technology to minimise the negative effects.

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April 05, 2019

IELTS Speaking Part 3: ‘technology and society’ answers

Here are my 3-step (answer, explain, example) answers to the questions that I showed you last Friday:

1. How much has technology improved how we communicate with each other?

I’d say that technology has made communication faster and easier, but I don’t think it has improved the quality of communication between people. I mean, it’s so easy to send a text message or write a comment on social media these days, but maybe you could say that our conversations are quite superficial compared to the way people communicated in the past. For example, I remember writing long, detailed letters to friends and family members when I was younger, but I tend to just send quick messages from my phone nowadays.

2. Do you agree that there are still many more major technological innovations to be made?

Of course! People are working on all sorts of new technologies as we speak, and I’m sure that there will be technological advances and breakthroughs for as long as human societies exist. Personally, I’m fascinated to see what happens with self-driving cars and other types of artificial intelligence over the next few decades.

3. Could you suggest some reasons why some people are deciding to reduce their use of technology?

Yes, I think the main reasons are that people feel overwhelmed or that their use of technology is becoming unhealthy. Some people have realised that all the devices and applications that they use are making their lives more complicated and stressful than necessary. Others might see themselves becoming addicted to checking their phones, or wasting too much time on their social media pages. I try to limit my own use of my phone and laptop because I want to spend more of my time in the ‘real world’ than on the Internet.

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