Lang 2.

High Tech life

Lang 2.1. Announcing a new device 3-4-5 levels 40-50 min.

GOAL. To learn some vocabulary features of high-tech language.

WARM-UP

TASK 1. Answer this quick survey on the presence of technology in our lives.
I. How old are your high tech products? (i.e. 5 years, 1.5 years. 3-month, not yet)
hand-held telephone Palm PDA desk PC iPod (or likewise) DVD CD
TV monitor portablePC audio in car Videocamera TCT GPS

II. Which ones have a presence in your classroom? …………………………………..……..

III. Which ones have been learning tools for your English? …………………………………..……..

LANGUAGE STUDY.

TASK 2. Underline all high tech expressions in this narrative passage

I was a low tech person until it
happened. Probably the people to
blame are two university teachers
who asked for a team-up assignment
with an uncanny deadline. This was
absolutely crazy and made us
-students- hate in some ways these
teachers but, in my personal life had
the side-effect of making Pablo and I
almost a family, we spent a huge
time together that year 2001 and we
even borrowed personal expressions
and habits from each other, it was a
bitter, but sweet, experience :).
This new cooperative environment
allowed me to admire PDAs, to find
them useful and even to think of
purchasing one. What most amazed
me was seen what could Pablo could
do in his PDA. I can mention these
ones: He had friends' addresses,
notes and meetings and everything
was synchronized with his Desktop
PC at home (inside MS Outlook, this
is very important because you know
that everything you write down in
your PDA is safely stored home so if
you lose it or something you can
ever get the information back), he
could check the best way to arrive
from a place to another one in many
cities, he could check how to go from
a city to another, he could play chess
against his PDA I really liked this ;),
he could read e-books, news and
more.
So I decided to buy a Zire71, which
was not a bad choice for the money I
had at the moment, at the end
however my strained parents gave
me the Palm Zire71 as a Christmas
present before finishing my degree.
However it was not until I began to
use my own PDA that I realised the
real power of these machines.
To begin with, to have a PDA in your
pocket is like to have a desktop PC in
your pocket, you can do almost
anything you usually do in a desktop
PC. The main uses in my Zire71
were: reading ebooks, reading the
news, use of dictionaries (English- PDA can suit you), agenda, notes,
English, English-Spanish, Spanish- addresses and phone numbers,
English, ..), use of calculator, Word, Excel and Access documents,
listening to music (the only programs to know how to arrive from
difference between a PDA and an city A to city B and more. To have all
iPod is that and iPod can carry on these capabilities in your pocket is
more songs because they have a quite a difference and can make
built in harddrive, but if you only one's life easier.
want to take with you a few LPs a

TASK 3. This paragraph refers to a well known object.

You can also make personal notes next to B.O.O.K. text entries with an optional program-

ming tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus, [...]
I. Can you relate this ‘programming tool’ to something in your classroom? What can it be? ………..
II. Perhaps you can do it if you add the final item: (a.k.a. P.E.N.C.I.L.S.) where a.k.a. stands for
‘also known as’. Have a go: ……………………..

TASK 4. Fill in the six following features using the words at the end:
1. specific nouns: .........................................................................
2. descriptive adjectives: .........................................................................
3. use of passive: .........................................................................
4. use of nominal adjectives: .........................................................................
5. Acronyms: .........................................................................
6. high-tech publicity phrases: .........................................................................

No wires / CD-ROM / compact device / technology / revolutionary breakthrough /

nothing to be connected / BOOK, be switched on / Just lift its cover!
batteries / Basic Orderly Organised Knowledge / circuits / portable

TASK 5. This sentences are part of a paragraph in a tech mag. Put them in order.

a) An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open the BOOK to the exact place

you left it in a previous session -even if the BOOK has been closed.

b) The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK.

c) Conversely, numerous BOOKmarks can be used in a single BOOK if the user wants to

store numerous views at once.

d) Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any selected

information for instant retrieval.

e) BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in

BOOKs by various manufacturers.

right order: ….…+ ………+ …..… +………+ ..……

Lang 2.2. Portable & durable hand-held devices 3-4-5 levels 40-50 min.

GOAL. To discover the language of technology with a humourous text.

WARM UP (with a pinch of humourous wit).

TASK 1. Do these activities. Q1. How were your parents entertained in the XXth century?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……

Q2. Read this tech passage (the last paragraph of a text you will read soon) that deals with
entertainment and guess which modern device is publicised: ……………………………

Portable, durable, and affordable, the B.O.O.K. is being hailed as the entertainment

wave of the future. The B.O.O.K.'s appeal seems so certain that thousands of

content creators have committed to the platform. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

LANGUAGE STUDY

TASK 2. Can you relate the device described in the introduction of a leaflet to something you have
in the classroom ? ……………………..

Announcing a new device:

Basic Orderly Organised Knowledge

The B.O.O.K. is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: No wires, no electric

circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use even

a child can operate it. Just lift its cover!

Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere - even sitting in an armchair by the

fire - yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.

TASK 3. To understand how the device works, Q1 can you guess what object is described with
the first - in this peculiar English’ – paragraph?

Each Basic Orderly Organised Knowledge is constructed of sequentially numbered

sheets of paper (recyclable), each capable of holding thousands of bits of information.

These pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder which keeps

the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows

manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and

cutting costs in half.

Q2. After reading these three lines, write what you guessed: .........................

Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for

now BOOKs with more information simply use more pages. This makes them thicker

and harder to carry, and has drawn some criticism from the mobile computing crowd.

TASK 4. Fill in these linguistic features trom the text in previous task:

1. specific nouns: .........................................................................

2. descriptive adjectives: .........................................................................

3. use of passive: .........................................................................

4. use of nominal adjectives: .........................................................................

5. Acronyms: .........................................................................

6. high-tech publicity phrases: .........................................................................

7. others: ................................................. .........................................................................

TASK 5. Our last paragraph has some ‘high level of information density’ but doesn’t prevents
readability. Copy the words you see for the first time.

Each sheet is scanned_ optically, registering_information directly into your brain.

A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. The BOOK may be taken up at any
time and used by merely opening it. The BOOK never crashes and never needs
rebooting, though like other display devices it can become unusable if dropped
overboard. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and
move forward or backward as you wish.

................................................. .........................................................................

TASK 6. Can you answer these easy questions?

Write three devices that can crash: ...................... .................. .....................

Find antonyms for breakable, fragile .......................... difficult access .........................

Find synonyms for:

reading .................................. understanding ......................................

numbered pages .................................. turn the page over .............................

be taken up at any time...........................................................

Annex 1

Announcing a new device:

Basic Orderly Organised Knowledge (BOOK)

The BOOK is a revolutionary breakthrough in technology: No wires, no electric

circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected or switched on. It's so easy to use
even a child can operate it. Just lift its cover!
Compact and portable, it can be used anywhere - even sitting in an armchair by the
fire - yet it is powerful enough to hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc. Here's
how it works...

• Each BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of paper (recyclable), each

capable of holding thousands of bits of information. These pages are locked together with a
custom-fit device called a binder which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque
Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the
information density and cutting costs in half.

• Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now
BOOKs with more information simply use more pages. This makes them thicker and harder
to carry, and has drawn some criticism from the mobile computing crowd.

• Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of
the finger takes you to the next sheet. The BOOK may be taken up at any time and used
by merely opening it. The BOOK never crashes and never needs rebooting, though like
other display devices it can become unusable if dropped overboard. The "browse" feature
allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish.

• Many come with an "index" feature, which pinpoints the exact location of any selected
information for instant retrieval. An optional "BOOKmark" accessory allows you to open the
BOOK to the exact place you left it in a previous session -even if the BOOK has been
closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used
in BOOKs by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOKmarks can be used in a
single BOOK if the user wants to store numerous views at once. T he number is limited
only by the number of pages in the BOOK.

• You can also make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with an optional programming
tool, the Portable Erasable Nib Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus (PENCILS).

• Portable, durable, and affordable, the BOOK is being hailed as the entertainment wave of
the future. The BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have
committed to the platform. Look for a flood of new titles soon.

[source http://homepage.tinet.ie/~nobyrne/books.htm ]
Lang 2. 3. Dealing with bugs, virus, glitches 3-4-5 levels 40-50 min.

GOAL. To read between the lines with uncanny, humourous texts.

TASK 1. High Tech fears rule our daily routines in unsuspected ways. Do both activities.
Q1. Observe this message and answer the questions below.

January 4, 2000 I. Who ‘wrote’ it? ………………………

Dear Valued Employee: II. Who is in charge of ‘our record indicate’?

Re: Vacation Pay …………………………………..……..…………………………………..

III. What does ‘Re: ’ stand for in the message?
Our records indicate that you have
...... …………………………………..……..…………………………………..

Please either take ........... IV. When was it issued?

take or notify our office and your …………………………………..……..…………………………………..
next pay check will
V. What happened that previous week?
reflect ............... .
...................................................................
Sincerely,
VI. Have you heard of Y2T bug? ……………
Automated Payroll Processing

Q2. Observe the full body of the message and answer the questions below

Our records indicate that you have not used any vacation time over the
past 100 year(s). As I'm sure you are aware, employees are granted 3
weeks of paid leave per year or pay in lieu of time off. One additional
week is granted for every 5 years of service.

Please either take 9,400 days off work or notify our office and your next
pay check will reflect payment of $8,277,432.22 which will include all
pay and interest for the past 1,200 months.

I. Wouldn't you like to work for THIS company? ………………………….………………..……..

II. What went wrong? ………………………………………………………………..……………
III. How did it affect to you? ………………………..……..…………………………………..……..
IV. Who fixed it? …………………..…….…………………..……..………………………………

TASK 2. How did this programmer misunderstand the Year 2 Thousand (Y2T) virus?

MEMORANDUM Voice 622-7016,

TO: Y2K COORDINATOR Pager 1800-624-4541
FROM: JUNIOR PROGRAMMER - PIN 1702963

I hope I haven't misunderstood your instructions. Because to be honest, none of ..............................

this Y to K problem makes any sense to me. At any rate, I have finished Then explain these
converting all the company calendars so that the year 2000 is ready to go with the
terms:
following new months: Januark Februark Mak Julk
voice........................
The new days will be:
...............................
Sundak Mondak Tuesdak Wednesdak Thursdak Fridak Saturdak
pager .......................
Let me know if I can change anything else!
...............................
Dan Brooks, Y2K CPE,
PIN .......................... ..............................

LANGUAGE STUDY
Where high tech meets the media
TASK 3. Underline all the expressions related to computers in this report.

American RadioWorks. The Y2K computer problem aka the Milennium bug

Back in the middle of 2004, our staff was in a meeting discussing upcoming projects with predictions of
possible future calamity. We were discussing how to handle that when one person said, "What if nothing
happens? Then it will be just another Y2K - all hype."

My background is in computers, and I knew that in terms of the actual computer problem, Y2K was very
real, and began arguing so [but] those around the table who were reporters at the time argued that from
the news perspective, nothing happened.

After the meeting, our Executive Editor pointed out that the five-year anniversary of Y2K was coming up
and suggested that we look into whether there was a story here about if Y2K was real or a hoax, what
misperceptions of Y2K remain, and about how Y2K might still be affecting us. The first thing we
discovered was one of the most surprising to me. We couldn't find any reporting on Y2K after about
March of 2000.

This project had a number of goals. First: to find out if Y2K was a success, or just hype. The answer
seems to be yes and yes. The problem was very real and the consequences for doing nothing were huge.
A second goal was to give credit where it's due. We all know the impossible situation of only being
noticed when something goes wrong. As long as the phones keep ringing (which they do nearly all the
time) we don't think much about the phone company. But when something goes wrong, we grumble at
how incompetent the phone company must be.

TASK 4. Read this report on Y2T with highlighted expressions related to computers.
How could you organise the lexical items in bold type in a mind map?

News shows talked about the
threat of a major computer
malfunction that might hit in the
year 2000.
The effects of a tiny, seemingly
innocuous computer glitch, a
tiny glitch a lot of people say
could literally blow the lights out
on civilization.
As the year 2000 approached,
programmers started warning that
computers could misread the
0-0 as the year 1900. That might
cause breakdowns.
No one knew how widespread
computer malfunctions might be,
but people started thinking about
all the things that are run by
computers. Things like hospital
equipment. Air traffic control.
Nuclear weapons.
In the early days of program-
ming, computer code used two
digit numbers for dates. That let
computers work faster. No one
thought the software would still
be in use decades later, but it was.
The US government spent nearly
nine billion dollars to fix its com-
puters. Businesses spent many
times more to upgrade theirs.
Some businesses underreacted
to the problem at first, and then
spent more money than they
should have scrambling to fix
their software - but it did have to
be fixed.
Before Y2K hit, many businesses
ran tests: They advanced their
computer clocks to 2000 - and the
computers didn't work.
Humour was another spin-off of the authentic problem.

TASK 5. Read this passage and do both activities.

An atmosphere close to panic prevails today throughout Europe as the millennial year
approaches, bringing with it the so-called "Millenial Bug", a menace which, until recently,
hardly anyone had ever heard of. Prophets of doom are warning that the entire fabric of
Western Civilization, based as it now is upon computations, could collapse, and that there is
simply not enough time left to fix the problem.

Q1. Which is a downside to our technological lives?

…………………………………………………………..……..…………………………………..……………

Q2.. Where would you insert these 3 words (1000 "Y1K Bug" monastic) in lines 1, 2 & 4 to create
a funny passage. Copy it below. We give you the title with its proper setting.

The Y1K Crisis -Dateline, A.D. 999: Canterbury, England.

…………………………………………………………..……..…………………………………..…………………………………………………………
…………………………………..……..…………………………………..……..…………………………………..…………………………………..
…………………………………………………………..……..…………………………………..……………………………………………………..
…………………………………..……..…………………………………..……..…………………………………..…………………………………..
………………………………………………………………..……..…………………………………..……..…………………………………..……..

TASK 6. Understanding between the lines. Now think in reverse gear for the next part of the text.

Q1. Underlined the meaningful sentences that related to the authentic Y2T troubles.

Just how did this disaster-in-the-making ever arise? Why did no one anticipate that a change from a
three-digit to a four-digit year would throw into total disarray all liturgical chants and all metrical
verse in which any date is mentioned? Every formulaic hymn, prayer, ceremony and incantation
dealing with dated events will have to be re-written to accommodate three extra syllables.

All tabular chronologies with three-space year columns, maintained for generations by scribes using
carefully hand-ruled lines on vellum sheets, will now have to be converted to four-space columns,
at enormous cost. In the meantime, the validity of every official event, from baptisms to burials,
from confirmations to coronations, may be called into question.

Stonemasons are already reported threatening to demand a proportional pay increase for having to
carve an extra numeral in all dates on tombstones, cornerstones and monuments. Together with its
inevitable ripple effects, this alone could plunge the hitherto-stable medieval economy into chaos.

A conference of clerics has been called at Winchester to discuss the entire issue, but doomsayers are
convinced that the matter is now one of personal survival. Many families, in expectation of the
worst, are stocking up on holy water and indulgences.

Q2. How hard would it be to write a text contextualised in our century?

...................................................................................................................................................
Annex 2. The Y1K Crisis -Dateline, A.D. 999: Canterbury, England.

An atmosphere close to panic prevails today "We should have seen it coming," says

throughout Europe as the millennial year Brother Cedric of St. Michael's Abbey,

1000 approaches, bringing with it the so- here in Canterbury. "What worries me most

called "Y1K Bug", a menace which, until is that 'THOUSAND' contains the word

recently, hardly anyone had ever heard of. 'THOU,' which occurs in nearly all our

Prophets of doom are warning that the prayers, and of course always refers to God.

entire fabric of Western Civilization, based Using it now in the name of the year will

as it now is upon monastic computations, seem almost blasphemous, and is bound to

could collapse, and that there is simply not cause terrible confusion. Of course, we

enough time left to fix the problem. would always use Latin, but that might be

even worse-the Latin word for 'Thousand' is

Just how did this disaster-in-the-making
'Mille'-which is the same as the Latin for
ever arise? Why did no one anticipate that a
'mile'. We won't know whether we're
change from a three-digit to a four-digit
talking about time or distance!"
year would throw into total disarray all

liturgical chants and all metrical verse in Stonemasons are already reported

which any date is mentioned? Every threatening to demand a proportional pay

formulaic hymn, prayer, ceremony and increase for having to carve an extra

incantation dealing with dated events will numeral in all dates on tombstones,

have to be re-written to accommodate cornerstones and monuments. Together with

three extra syllables. All tabular its inevitable ripple effects, this alone could

chronologies with three-space year columns, plunge the hitherto-stable medieval

maintained for generations by scribes using economy into chaos.

carefully hand-ruled lines on vellum sheets,

A conference of clerics has been called at
will now have to be converted to four-space
Winchester to discuss the entire issue, but
columns, at enormous cost.
doomsayers are convinced that the matter

In the meantime, the validity of every is now one of personal survival. Many

official event, from baptisms to burials, families, in expectation of the worst, are

from confirmations to coronations, may be stocking up on holy water and indulgences.

called into question.

Annex 3.
THE Y ZERO K PROBLEM

While browsing through some dust-
covered archival material in the recesses
of the Roman Section of the British
Museum a researcher recently came across
a tattered bit of parchment. After some
effort he translated it and found it was a
letter from a man called Plutonius with the
title of "magister factorium", or keeper of
the calendar, to one Cassius. It was dated,
strangely enough, 2 BC, December 3, or
2,000 years ago. The text of the message
follows:

Dear Cassius,

Are you still working on

the Y zero K problem? The
change from BC to AD is
giving us a lot of
headaches and we haven't
much time left. I don't
know how people will cope
with working the wrong
way around. Having been
working happily
downwards forever, now
we have to start thinking
upwards. You would think
that someone would have
thought of it earlier and
not left it to us to sort it
all out at the last minute.
I spoke to Caesar the
other evening. He was
livid that Julius hadn't
done something about it
when he was sorting out
the calendar. He said he
could see why Brutus had We have heard that there
turned nasty. We called in are three wise men in the
the consulting astrologers, East who have been
but they simply said that working on the problem,
continuing downwards but unfortunately they
using minus BC won't won't arrive until it's all
work. As usual the over. Some say the world
consultants charged a will cease to exist at the
fortune for doing nothing moment of transition.
useful. As for myself, I We're continuing to work
just can't see the sand in on the Y zero K problem
an hour glass flowing and I'll send you a
upwards. parchment if anything
develops.

Best regards,

Plutonius