• UNIT PEOPLE AND TECHNOLOGY 2

    Key Unit Competence: 

    To use language learnt in the context of people and technology.

    F

    1. After observing picture one, describe different activities currently 
    taking place due to technological advancements.
    2. Using picture two, explain some disadvantages of different new 
    technologies and suggest suitable solutions.

    3. Look at picture three and describe what you can see. 

    2.1. Describing concepts related to both humankind and 

    technological trends

    H

    technologies can detect changes in shoppers’ heart rates. A variety of wearable 
    ranging from today’s smart watches to tomorrow’s augmented-reality goggles 
    capture a wearer’s biofeedback. Smartphone data captured in real time can alert 
    retailers that customers are checking online to compare prices for a specific 
    product, suggesting dissatisfaction with store pricing, product selection, or 
    layout. 
    During the next two years, more companies will likely embrace aspects of 
    the growing intelligent interfaces trend. As a first step, they can explore how 
    different approaches can support their customer engagement and operational 
    transformation goals. Companies already on such journeys can further develop 
    use cases and prototypes. Though investments of time, labour, and budget 
    may be required before companies can begin reaping benefits, the steps 
    they take during the next 18 to 24 months will be critical to maintaining future 
    competitiveness.
    Intelligent interfaces represent the latest in a series of major technology 
    transformations that began with the transition from mainframes to personal 
    computers and continued with the emergence of the web and mobile. At each 
    stage, the ways in which we interface with technology have become more 
    natural, contextual, and ubiquitous. This is seen through the progression from 
    keyboards to mice, to touchscreens, to voice and the consequent changes in 
    the way we manipulate onscreen data.
    Today, voice-user interfaces such as those found in popular mass-market 
    products such as Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s Siri® voice 
    recognition software, and Microsoft’s Cortana are the most widely deployed 
    types of intelligent interface. The on-going competition among these tech 
    giants to dominate the voice systems space is standardizing natural language 
    processing and AI (Artificial intelligence) technologies across the interface 
    market-and fuelling innovation. Amazon offered a US$1 million prize through its 
    annual Alexa competition to any team of computer-science graduate students 
    building a bot capable of conversing “coherently and engagingly with humans 
    on popular topics for 20 minutes.”
    Voice use cases are proliferating in warehouse, customer service, and, notably, 
    in field operation deployments where technicians armed with a variety of voiceenabled wearable can interact with company systems and staff without having to 
    hold a phone or printed instructions. Likewise, we are seeing more organizations 
    explore opportunities to incorporate voice dialog systems into their employee 
    training programs. Their goal is to develop new training methodologies that 
    increase the effectiveness of training, while shortening the amount of time 
    employees spend learning new skills
    Though conversational technologies may currently dominate the intelligent 
    interfaces arena, many see a different breed of solutions gaining ground, 
    harnessing the power of advanced sensors, IoT (internet of things) networks, 
    computer vision, analytics, and AI. These solutions feature, among other 
    capabilities, computer vision, gesture control devices, embedded eye-tracking 
    platforms, bio-acoustic sensing, emotion detection/recognition technology, 
    and muscle-computer interfaces. And soon this list also may include emerging 
    capabilities such as brain-controlled interfaces, exoskeleton and gait analysis, 
    volumetric displays, spatial computing, and electro vibration sensing. 
    (Extracted from Reimagining the way humans, machines, and data interact, by Allan 

    V. Cook, Jonathan Berman, and Jiten Dajee

    • Comprehension questions

    1. Discuss the technological advancement experienced in the field of 
    business as shown in paragraph three. 
    2. Explain how companies can embrace the intelligent interface trend. 
    3. Show how intelligent interfaces represent the latest technology 
    transformations today. 
    4. State the current most widely deployed types of intelligent interface. 
    5. Assess the extent to which voice dialogue syatems are used today. 
    6. Determine the aim of using voice dialog systems in different organizations 
    nowadays. 
    7. State and discuss the new technological solutions that are currently 

    gaining ground as described in the last paragraph

    X

    G

    II. Sentence construction

    Using the words in the above table, make grammatically correct sentences.

    III. Summary writing

    In not more than 100 words, summarize the above passage.

    IV. Research

    Conduct a research on the positive result of new technologies. Then 

    present your findings to the class.

    2.2. Advantages of new tech trends

    F

    • Text: Advantages and disadvantages of modern technology
    Today, technology is very important because it is used for almost everything. 
    Like everything, technology has advantages and disadvantages.
    In the world today, people cannot live without technologies such as televisions, 
    mobile phones, computers and others. These technologies have slowly taken 
    an essential part in people’s day-to-day lives and being without them would be 
    unimaginable for some of us. To understand technology, one must know what it 
    provides in terms of advantages, but also disadvantages.
    First, the evolution of technology is beneficial to humans for several reasons. At 
    the medical level, technology can help treat more sick people and consequently 

    save many lives and combat very harmful viruses and bacteria

    The invention of the computer was a very important point. Communication is 
    thus enhanced, and companies can communicate more easily with foreign 
    countries. Research is also simplified.
    For companies, progress in implementing strategic technology trends is helping 
    them save time and therefore, money. Exchanges are faster especially with the 
    internet. Sales and purchases are now facilitated and possible worldwide. This 
    allows businesses to buy raw materials with discounts or at reduced prices. 
    Similarly, global tourism has grown.
    When observed more closely, new things are discovered every day. Let’s take 
    for instance when radio waves were discovered, radio broadcasts followed 
    suit almost immediately. The same applies to the television and electricity. If no 
    one had discovered that electricity could be generated, then the entertainment 
    industry wouldn’t be at its current stage of development.
    Technology improves daily lives; allowing to move physical storage units to 
    virtual storage banks and more. Scientists of the time are also able to send 
    astronauts to the moon thanks to technology.
    In the modern industrial world, machines carry out most of the agricultural and 
    industrial work and as a result, workers produce much more goods than a 
    century ago and work less. They have more time to exercise and work in safer 
    environments.
    On the other hand, the evolution of modern technology has disadvantages, for 
    example, dependence on new technology. Man no longer needs to think. Even if 
    the calculator is a good invention, man no longer makes mental calculation and 
    no longer works his memory. The decline of human capital implies an increase 
    in unemployment. In some areas, devices can replace the human mind.
    The use of technology certainly needs rule and new laws. For example internet 
    use is an individual freedom. However, the invention of the atomic bomb 
    cannot be an individual freedom. In fact, regulations are difficult to implement 
    when these technologies are introduced-such as regulation surrounding the 
    impending arrival of autonomous vehicles.
    Finally, as most technological discoveries aim to reduce human effort, it would 
    imply that more work is done by machines. This equates to less work for people: 
    the human is becoming ever so obsolete by the day, as processes become 
    automated and jobs are made redundant. The influence that the negative impact 
    of technology has on children should not be underestimated as well.
    Extract from Key Events in the Story of Technology, London (2019) Bonhill Group 

    Plc, by Michael Baxter

    • Comprehension questions

    1. Why is technology very useful?
    2. Assess the importance of technology at the medical level.
    3. Show how the invention of the computer was a very important point.
    4. Evaluate the usefulness of implementing strategic technological trends
    for companies.
    5. Analyse the utility of technological discoveries in media and entertainment.
    6. Explain how technology improves daily lives.
    7. Discuss the use of technology in agriculture and industrial work.
    8. Using suitable examples from the passage, explain the disadvantages of 
    the evolution of modern technology.
    9. Why rules and new laws are needed for the optimal use of technology?

    10. Analyse the impact of technological discoveries on employmen

    C

    II. Sentence construction
    Using the terms in the above table, construct correct and meaningful 
    sentences.
    III. Summary writing
    In not more than 80 words, summarize the advantages and disadvantages 
    of modern technology as developed in the above passage.
    IV. Composition writing
    Write a 300 word composition predicting the impact of technological 
    advancement on Rwanda’s future generation.
    V. Debate
    Debate on the following motion: “Technological discoveries cause more 
    good than harm.”
    VI. Research
    Conduct a research on the current impact of modern technology on the 
    community in your area. Analyse both positive and negative influences of 
    technology and suggest practical measures that should be implemented to 

    encourage optimal use of technological discoveries.

    2.3. Challenges caused by new technologies

    S

    • Text: How will technology impact on us?
    Perhaps the most fundamental and direct impact that technology has on the 
    everyday life of most people is economic in nature. The issue of jobs and 
    unemployment is one that strikes a chord of concern in just about every person. 
    While competition between machinery and human labour has long existed 
    in the realm of physical tasks, it has only recently been introduced into the 
    domain of mental work. Much as heavy machinery has eliminated the need for 
    physical exertion on the part of humans, so too does modern technology, in the 
    form of microchips and computers. It brings with it the potential to eliminate 
    mental drudgery. Does this mean, however, that humans will no longer have any 

    purpose to serve in the world?

    To gain some perspective on the issue, we can take a look at the past. At 
    the beginning of the 20th century in the United States, jobs in factories and 
    agriculture were disappearing at a rapid rate. But with the loss of those jobs 
    came the potential for millions of new jobs and economic development in new 
    industries. Indeed the macroeconomic trend of the past century has been 
    overwhelmingly positive. Jobs have grown 10-fold in the United States (from 12 
    million in 1870 to 116 million in 1985) and the percentage of people employed 
    has grown from 21 percent to 48 percent. Per-capita gross national product, as 
    well as the average earning power of jobs, has increased 600 percent in constant 
    dollars during the same period. Today, new manufacturing technologies are 
    rapidly reducing the number of production jobs. The advent of new technology 
    is projected to rapidly decrease the demand for clerical workers and other such 

    semiskilled and unskilled workers

    Computers, which have revolutionized the workplace, are similarly infiltrating 
    society. They have brought about innumerable advances in education and 
    personal communication. Slowly but surely, computers have begun to infiltrate
    the classroom. Though not yet optimized for education, the personal computer 
    has much potential in this arena. Wireless networks can allow for the easy 
    sharing of courseware, submissions by students of papers, exams, courseware 
    responses, and other creations. The networking of information can provide 
    students with instant access to vast amounts of information and knowledge

    The realm of communications has likewise seen immense change. We are 

    provided with new ways to communicate with each other, such as email and 
    instant messaging. Documents placed on the internet are sources of information 
    for the rest of the world. Vast databases allow for the easy storage of information. 
    Global positioning satellites allow us to track our exact location and find our way 

    to various destinations

    The potential applications of technology to warfare are well known. But is this 
    application positive or negative? One might argue that the military application 
    of science is undoubtedly negative in that it has led to the creation of the atomic 
    bomb and other such weapons of mass destruction. Technology has made the 
    complete destruction of humanity possible. That capacity continues to grow, 
    as more nations develop nuclear technology and the proliferation of nuclear 
    warheads continues.
    On the other hand, it is also possible to argue that science has made it possible 
    for the more accurate destruction of enemy targets and, in doing so, has 
    lessened unintended damage to civilian populations. Smart bombs and cruise 
    missiles have lessened the human component of war at least to some degree. 
    (Extract from “Why the Future Doesn’t Need Us”, by Bill Joy, Stanford University, 

    April 2000

     Comprehension questions

    1. Assess the economic impact of technology on the everyday life of some 
    people.
    2. Evaluate the positive impact of technology on employment at the start of 
    the 20th century.
    3. What is the impact of the new manufacturing technologies on employment 
    today?
    4. Analyse the outcome of technology in education.
    5. How did new technologies influence the way people communicate?
    6. Examine the negative applications of technology to warfare.
    7. Discuss the positive impact of the use of science and technology in the 

    field of war.

    K

    Use a dictionary or a thesaurus to find the meanings of the following terms.
    1. …realm… (paragraph one)
    2. …microchips… (paragraph one)
    3. …drudgery… (paragraph one)
    4. …macroeconomic… (paragraph two)
    5. overwhelmingly… (paragraph two)
    6. . …advent… (paragraph two)
    7. … …clerical… (paragraph two)
    8. …innumerable… (paragraph three)
    9. . …infiltrate… (paragraph three)
    10. . …courseware… (paragraph three)
    11. . …warfare… (paragraph five)
    12. . …proliferation… (paragraph five)

    13. …lessen… (paragraph six)

    II. Sentence construction

    Using the above terms used in the above passage, construct grammatically 
    correct sentences.
    III. Summary writing 
    In less than 90 words, summarize the above passage.
    IV. Composition writing
    Write a 350 word composition on the optimal use of modern technological 
    discoveries.
    V. Debate
    Debate on the following motion: “With modern technology humans will no 

    longer have any purpose to serve in the world.”

    2.4. Language Structure: Correlative connectors

    • Notes

    Correlative connectors are words that function as separable compounds, 
    occurring in pairs, and have corresponding meanings. A correlative connector 
    is a type of connector that functions in a pair, with both words working together 
    to balance words, phrases, or clauses. These connectors are only used when 
    equal, correlative ideas are presented. They should not be used with ideas that 
    are disparate or unequal. There are many examples of correlative connectors 
    but the most common are:
    - either ... or
    - neither ... nor
    - not only...but also
    - both ... and
    - the more... the less
    - the more... the more
    - no sooner... than
    - whether... or
    - rather ... than
    - hardly/scarcely…when

    Examples

    1. Both the planning of technology projects and their uses are costly.
    2. John will either sleep or go to school.
    3. Computers are not only useful but also stressful. 
    4. Not only is management of waste technological tools expensive but also 
    harmful to the environment.
    5. Not only did she forget my birthday, but she also didn’t apologise for 
    forgetting it! 
    6. No sooner did he enter the room than my tablet disappeared. 
    7. No sooner had I closed my eyes than I fell asleep. 
    8. Do you care whether we use a smart camera or a projector in the 
    conference?
    9. The more you think about it, the less likely you are to take action.
    10. The more it rains, the more serious the problems become.
    11. Wouldn’t you rather take a chance to owe me than be in debt to Michael?
    12. Hardly had I reached the station when the train came.
    13. Scarcely had I reached the station when the train arrived
    Note that when we begin a sentence with a negative word or phrase like hardly, 
    scarcely, not only or no sooner, we put the auxiliary verb before the subject. 
    When there is no auxiliary verb or main verb be, we use do, does or did.
    • Language practice
    Complete each sentence using the correlative connector pair from the 
    parenthesis:
    1. I plan to take my vacation ………… in June ………… in July. (whether/ 
    or, either / or, as / if)
    2. ………… I’m feeling happy ………… sad, I try to keep a positive attitude. 
    (either / or, whether / or, rather / than)
    3. ………… had I taken my shoes off ………… I found out we had to leave 
    again. (no sooner / than, rather / than, whether / or)
    4. ………… only is dark chocolate delicious, ………… it can be healthy. 
    (whether / or, not / but also, just as / so)
    5. I will be your friend ………… you stay here………… move away. (either/

    or, whether/or, neither/nor)

    2.5. Spelling and pronunciation

    A. Spelling and dictation

    Listen carefully to the text read or recorded about technology and social welfare. 

    Write it down as correctly as possible. 

    B. Phonetic transcription

    Complete the table below by giving the phonetic transcriptions of the words 

    studied across this unit. Pay attention to the placement of the stress where 

    necessary. Then practise their pronunciation. You can use a dictionary where 

    you find it necessary. One is done for you.

    H

    2.6. End unit assessment

    K


    1. Carry out a survey in your area with the aim of evaluating the 
    progress that Rwanda has made in the implementation of modern 
    technology and the impact that this has had on socio-economic life. 
    Then present your findings to the class.
    2. Each correlative connector comes in a pair of words. Use one of the 
    following pairs to complete each sentence: either … or, neither … 
    nor, both . . . and, not only . . . but also, whether … or, not only…also, 
    not only…but…also
    3. “Could I come over at ………… three ………… four o’clock?” asked 
    Joan.
    4. The teacher refused to mark his work because his book was 
    ………… torn ………… dirty.
    5. I really need a holiday but ………… in Spain ………… France.
    6. I’m going to fish tomorrow, ..………… it rains ………… shines.
    7. ………… did he borrow a lot of money from us, he ………… refused 
    to pay back a single cent.
    8. The children at the centre can ………… hear ………… speak.
    9. She employs a maid to do ………… the cooking ………… washing 
    for her family.
    10. We have enough spices for only one type of curry. We can cook 
    ………… chicken curry ………… mutton curry.
    11. The boy is really talented. He ………… knows how to play the piano 
    ………… can also compose music.
    12. I do not like him. He is ………… rude ………… selfish.
    13. Conduct a research on key economic areas that need modern 
    technology in Rwanda. Suggest appropriate ways of using 
    technology in those areas and show how this could boost their 
    productivity.
    14. Write a 300 word essay on the following topic: “The impact of 
    effective implementation of technology on the learning process in 

    Rwandan schools.

    UNIT 1 COMMUNICATION, INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATIONUNIT 3 NATIONAL SERVICES AND SELFRELIANCE