# Technology and Communication
### 1. Communication then and now

- **Then:** letters, telegrams, landline phones, face-to-face meetings, public newspapers.
- **Now:** instant messaging, emails, video calls, social media, voice assistants, AI chatbots.
- Communication is now **instant, global, multimedia and asynchronous**.

### 2. Modern devices

- **Smartphone** – the most important device for most people.
- **Smartwatch, fitness tracker.**
- **Tablet / e-reader.**
- **Laptop, desktop, all-in-one PC.**
- **Smart TV.**
- **Headphones / earbuds** (e.g. AirPods).
- **VR headset / AR glasses.**
- **Smart-home devices** – Alexa, Google Home, smart bulbs, smart thermostats.

### 3. Useful tech vocabulary

- **Hardware vs. software vs. firmware.**
- **Cables and ports** – USB, USB-C, HDMI, jack, lightning, charging cable.
- **Adapter, charger, plug, socket, power bank, extension cord.**
- **Modem, router, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC.**
- **Cloud, server, IoT (Internet of Things).**
- **Cookies, preferences, permissions, login, password.**
- **To download, upload, install, update, back up, debug, hack, stream, scan, charge, pair.**

### 4. The internet

- Created in **1969 (ARPANET)**, World Wide Web by **Tim Berners-Lee in 1989**.
- Allows: **websites, email, online shopping, banking, learning, gaming, streaming, social media.**
- More than **5 billion users worldwide** (2025).
- **In the EU**, internet access rose from ~55 % of households in 2009 to ~92 % in 2019.
- CZ, Poland and Slovakia have the **highest daily computer use** by young people in the EU.

### 5. Email and instant messaging

- **Email:** Gmail, Outlook, Seznam Email, ProtonMail.
- **Instant messaging:** WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram, Signal, Discord.
- **Video calls:** Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime.
- **Voice assistants:** Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant.
- Most communication today is **text-first**, which has both advantages (record, easy, async) and disadvantages (misunderstandings, no tone).

### 6. Social media

- **Platforms:** Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn, Reddit.
- **What people do:** share photos, post videos, follow influencers, react with likes / hearts, comment, message, livestream.
- **Influencers** can earn money from ads, sponsorships and merchandise.
- **Algorithms** decide what we see – risk of **filter bubbles** and addiction.

### 7. Online education

- Took off massively during **COVID-19**.
- Platforms: **Khan Academy, Coursera, Udemy, edX, Duolingo, YouTube.**
- **Pros:** flexible, accessible, lots of materials, you can learn anywhere.
- **Cons:** lack of social contact, less discipline, screen fatigue, missing practical / hands-on training.

### 8. Online problems

- **Cyberbullying** – harassment online, especially among teens.
- **Phishing / scams** – fake emails, fake websites, identity theft.
- **Viruses / malware / ransomware.**
- **Fake news / disinformation.**
- **Addiction** – social media, gaming, streaming.
- **Loss of privacy** – tracking, ads, data leaks.
- **Hate speech, trolling, doxxing.**

### 9. Cybersecurity basics

- **Strong passwords** + **password manager**.
- **Two-factor authentication (2FA)**.
- Don’t click on suspicious links or attachments.
- **Updates** – install them.
- Use a **VPN** on public Wi-Fi.
- Be careful what you **share** online.

### 10. Artificial intelligence

- **AI** has exploded since 2022 with tools like **ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Midjourney**.
- It can write text, code, generate images, hold conversations, translate, summarise.
- **Concerns:** job loss, deepfakes, hallucinations, bias, misuse for disinformation.
- **Opportunities:** productivity, education, accessibility, scientific research.

### 11. Pros of technology

- **Faster communication** and access to information.
- **Education, healthcare, science** all benefit.
- **Remote work** and online services save time.
- **Entertainment** – streaming, gaming, social.

### 12. Cons of technology

- **Privacy** issues – companies collect huge amounts of data.
- **Addiction** to screens and social media.
- **Reduced face-to-face interaction.**
- **Cybercrime** is growing.
- **Environmental impact** of devices and data centres.

### 13. Useful quotes / lines

- *"The great myth of our times is that technology is communication."* – Libby Larsen.
- *"The technology you use impresses no one. The experience you create with it is everything."*

### 14. Speaking strategy

Describe today’s devices and how communication has changed. Mention the internet and a couple of platforms. Talk about online education and your own experience with it. Cover online problems (cyberbullying, fake news, privacy). Finish with AI as the most exciting and most worrying current trend.