The document discusses technological inventions and their impact on daily life, emphasizing innovations from the wheel to modern gadgets like smartphones and GPS. It highlights several key technologies, including microwaves, personal computers, and the internet, noting their transformative effects on communication, convenience, and information dissemination. Additionally, the document includes vocabulary exercises and comprehension checks related to the technological developments discussed.

1. Instituto Agrícola Pascual Baburizza
Department of English
Mr. Diego Ulloa Iglesias
Unit II: Technology &
Inventions
Lesson I: Technology update
Objective: Comprehend main and
specific ideas from texts related to the
greatest technological inventions.

2. KEY WORD SPOT
Write down the following words on your notebooks and
guess what they mean while reading the texts. If
possible, take notes of them.
Invention - Gadget - Development -
Instantaneous - Untethered – Modernized -
Machine - Obsolete - Buttons - Face-to-face

3.  Since the age of modern man began roughly 200,000
years ago, the world has seen a progression of
innovation and invention.
 From primitive developments such as the wheel and
paper to today's high-tech gadgets that would blow the
mind of any Neanderthal, there's certainly no shortage of
impressive developments that have changed the way we
live and work.
 In modern times, a handful of technological wonders that
started out as novelties, have become indispensable to
our daily routines.
Overview
SOURCE:
SMALLBUSINESS

4. Cellular Phones
Communication has always been a key to
success, from wars to relationships. The
comparison between today's cell
phones, which offer instantaneous and
untethered communication, to the old-
fashioned paper-and-pen process is
nothing short of incredible.
The Nielsen ratings service predicted that
one out of every two Americans would own
smart phones at the end of
2011, according to the website GigOm. So
it's not just calls these phones are good
for; they offer a veritable banquet of
computer access at your fingertips.

5. Microwave Oven
Though humankind got along just fine
without microwaves before they were
developed in the late 1940s, the invention
has been a major game changer in terms
of food preparation and the office break
room. Not only have microwaves
modernized the way we eat, they've also
made meals far more convenient to
prepare.
Now, if only there were a way to contain
that unmistakable aroma of microwave
popcorn!

6. GPS
Thanks to the GPS, or Global
Positioning System, and its
integration in just about everything
tech-related, most of you will never get
lost again. And we're not talking just
about those dashboard displays. The
half of Americans carrying smart
phones likely have GPS apps guiding
the way.
According to the British newspaper
The Telegraph, GPS was originally
developed in 1978 by the U.S. military.

7. Personal Computer
No list of the "greatest technologies
ever invented" is complete unless it
includes the personal computer.
The magazine Popular Mechanics
reports the first general purpose
computer was a 30-ton behemoth
invented in 1947. Though an
incredible machine, it was far too
large for any home.
The invention of the personal
computer, or PC, happened in the
1970s and revolutionized the entire
world.

8. Digital Music
Music has graced the world with
its presence for thousands of
years, but digitizing music has
improved sound quality and
sharing ability.
Digital music also cuts back on
waste, and it's only a matter of
time before CDs, records and
cassette tapes become
obsolete.

9. Computer Mouse
The computer mouse is one
technology that often gets
overlooked and taken for granted.
Back when early computers were the
size of a house, they could only be
manipulated through hundreds of tiny
buttons and sliders.
The mouse -- named after its tail-like
cord and round body -- was invented
in 1964 by Douglas Engelbart, a
radar technician from the Stanford
Research Institute, according to the
British newspaper The Independent.

10. Internet
Compared to inventions that have
existed for hundreds of years, such as
the microscope or telescope, the
Internet is still in its infancy. Still, the
Internet has arguably changed the world
more than most other inventions.
The Internet was invented in the late
'60s and made available to the public in
the '90s. Since then, it has improved
both communication and information
dissemination and changed daily life for
virtually everyone on Earth.

11. Remote Controls
Like the microwave, remote controls
aren't necessary to humankind's
survival. With that said, they're
certainly convenient. Accordingly to
Popular Mechanics, remote
controls were invented in 1955.
Though we take them for granted
today, the way they wirelessly
change the TV channel or run
through your slideshows -- without
making you move from your couch
or podium -- is undeniably
impressive.

12. Digital Cameras
Digital cameras are beloved by many
because they capture sentimental
moments and personal adventures.
They come in handy for recording such
memories, but they also play a
significant role in news dissemination
and recording history in general.
While film-based cameras paved the
way for their digital
descendants, today's high-tech
cameras and integrated phones
eliminate long processing times and
allow us to share pictures instantly.

13. Video Conferencing
The idea of video conferencing
may not seem like a big deal in
today's tech-saturated world, but
consider how science-fiction-like
the idea was even 100 years ago.
Today, talking face-to-
face, without actually being face-
to-face, is commonplace -- with
just two or three clicks of the
mouse, through the digital
camera on your PC or smart
phone, across the Internet.

14. KEY WORD SPOT
Invention / Something that is invented
A small mechanical device or appliance / Gadget
Development / The act or process of growing, progressing, or developing
Occurring with almost no delay; immediate / Instantaneous
Untethered / Without connecting wires or other material contacts
Up to date / Modernized
Machine / Any mechanical or electrical device that automatically performs
tasks or assists in performing tasks
Out of use or practice / Obsolete
Buttons / A small round object, such as any of various
sweets, decorations, or badges
In person; directly / Face-to-face
Let’s check your notes! 
SOURCE:
WORDREFERENCE

15. In the following diapos, you will see some
statements related to the previous
texts, so you have to say aloud if they are
correct or wrong.

16. Impressive developments have
changed the way we live and
work today.

17. Communication has always
been a key to success, from
wars to relationships.

18. Smart phones are good just for
calls.

19. Not only have microwaves
modernized the way we
eat, they've also made meals far
more convenient.

20. Thanks to the GPS, most of you
will never get lost again.

21. GPS means General Positional
System.

22. The first Personal Computer
invented was far too large for
any home.

23. CD’s, records and cassettes will
never become obsolete.

24. Digitizing music has improved
sound quality and sharing ability.

25. Since 90’s, the Internet has
improved both communication
and information dissemination
and changed daily life for
virtually everyone on Earth.

26. Current computer mice could
only be manipulated through
hundreds of tiny buttons and
sliders.

27. Remote Controls can’t let you
change the TV channels without
making a move from the coach.

28. Cameras not only capture
sentimental moments and
personal adventures, but also
play a significant role in news
dissemination and recording
history in general.

29. Today, it’s impossible to talk
face-to-face with people who are
far away from you.

30. Well done!
Now we’re going
to check our
Language Spot 

31. LANGUAGE SPOT
What Linking Words are good for?
Linking Words are used to develop
coherence within a paragraph, that is
linking one idea or argument to another,
such as:
Although – For – Because – So –
However – As – Also – Though – But –
Not only… but also – Such as

32. LANGUAGE SPOT
There are many linking words that
indicate:
sequence, addition, contrast, result, r
eason, comparison, emphasis and
example.
Now find some linking words that are in the
previous texts, write them down on your notebooks
and indicate their functions in their context.