Questões de Inglês

Teens, tech and tides of history: new gadgets can be hard to swallow 

Humans seem to take very well to inventions that simply make everyday life easier and more convenient

– the light bulb, the flush toilet and sliced bread, for instance. However, inventions that alter the way

we communicate and entertain ourselves seem harder for our species to swallow gracefully.

“Radio is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the

[5]  same time, and yet remain lonesome” - T.S. Eliot*, a student of alienation, declared in the early days

of the wireless. This impulse that new is worse, when combined with the eternal concern about “kids

today”, goes far in explaining why grown-ups worry so much about the weird things kids today do with

technological gadgets and gizmos.

As Eliot imagined that listening to songs and gags at home instead of in theaters, pubs and parks

[10]  would be a sad, isolating escapade, I can’t see how a virtual community can be a real community;

how chatting with someone online is like hanging out with a neighbor, or how “IMing” is meaningful

communication. I can’t believe that reality television, video games or the search for the coolest ring

tone are proper substitutes for, well, anything.

In today’s society, teens are inundated with gadgets. Most teenagers would probably admit their days

[15]  are filled with text messaging friends, talking on their cell phones, playing electronic games, listening

to MP3 players, blogging on MySpace, watching television, surfing the Internet or doing any number of

other activities involving media technology. Unfortunately, most of these electronic activities increase

teens’ individualistic behavior by lessening their opportunity to have face-to-face relationship building

time.

[20]  Some parents feel they cannot limit their child’s use of electronic gadgets for many reasons. Perhaps

the electronic device is being used to keep track of a teen’s whereabouts, the item was a gift, the teen

bought the gadget himself or parents say they feel hypocritical because they are modeling the very

behavior they’re asking their kids to stop doing. Still, these technological concerns should not hinder

a parent from helping their child socialize and participate in outdoor activities when it comes to media

[25]  madness.

I have a large measure of confidence that future archeologists and historians will conclude that

innovations such as a code-speak called “Instant Messaging”, or a music box called “iPod” or a makebelieve

room called “MySpace” inexorably set us on a path of alienation and individualism. 

DICK MEYER www.cbsnews.com 

Teens, tech and tides of history: new gadgets can be hard to swallow 

Humans seem to take very well to inventions that simply make everyday life easier and more convenient

– the light bulb, the flush toilet and sliced bread, for instance. However, inventions that alter the way

we communicate and entertain ourselves seem harder for our species to swallow gracefully.

“Radio is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the

[5]  same time, and yet remain lonesome” - T.S. Eliot*, a student of alienation, declared in the early days

of the wireless. This impulse that new is worse, when combined with the eternal concern about “kids

today”, goes far in explaining why grown-ups worry so much about the weird things kids today do with

technological gadgets and gizmos.

As Eliot imagined that listening to songs and gags at home instead of in theaters, pubs and parks

[10]  would be a sad, isolating escapade, I can’t see how a virtual community can be a real community;

how chatting with someone online is like hanging out with a neighbor, or how “IMing” is meaningful

communication. I can’t believe that reality television, video games or the search for the coolest ring

tone are proper substitutes for, well, anything.

In today’s society, teens are inundated with gadgets. Most teenagers would probably admit their days

[15]  are filled with text messaging friends, talking on their cell phones, playing electronic games, listening

to MP3 players, blogging on MySpace, watching television, surfing the Internet or doing any number of

other activities involving media technology. Unfortunately, most of these electronic activities increase

teens’ individualistic behavior by lessening their opportunity to have face-to-face relationship building

time.

[20]  Some parents feel they cannot limit their child’s use of electronic gadgets for many reasons. Perhaps

the electronic device is being used to keep track of a teen’s whereabouts, the item was a gift, the teen

bought the gadget himself or parents say they feel hypocritical because they are modeling the very

behavior they’re asking their kids to stop doing. Still, these technological concerns should not hinder

a parent from helping their child socialize and participate in outdoor activities when it comes to media

[25]  madness.

I have a large measure of confidence that future archeologists and historians will conclude that

innovations such as a code-speak called “Instant Messaging”, or a music box called “iPod” or a makebelieve

room called “MySpace” inexorably set us on a path of alienation and individualism. 

DICK MEYER www.cbsnews.com 

Teens, tech and tides of history: new gadgets can be hard to swallow 

Humans seem to take very well to inventions that simply make everyday life easier and more convenient

– the light bulb, the flush toilet and sliced bread, for instance. However, inventions that alter the way

we communicate and entertain ourselves seem harder for our species to swallow gracefully.

“Radio is a medium of entertainment which permits millions of people to listen to the same joke at the

[5]  same time, and yet remain lonesome” - T.S. Eliot*, a student of alienation, declared in the early days

of the wireless. This impulse that new is worse, when combined with the eternal concern about “kids

today”, goes far in explaining why grown-ups worry so much about the weird things kids today do with

technological gadgets and gizmos.

As Eliot imagined that listening to songs and gags at home instead of in theaters, pubs and parks

[10]  would be a sad, isolating escapade, I can’t see how a virtual community can be a real community;

how chatting with someone online is like hanging out with a neighbor, or how “IMing” is meaningful

communication. I can’t believe that reality television, video games or the search for the coolest ring

tone are proper substitutes for, well, anything.

In today’s society, teens are inundated with gadgets. Most teenagers would probably admit their days

[15]  are filled with text messaging friends, talking on their cell phones, playing electronic games, listening

to MP3 players, blogging on MySpace, watching television, surfing the Internet or doing any number of

other activities involving media technology. Unfortunately, most of these electronic activities increase

teens’ individualistic behavior by lessening their opportunity to have face-to-face relationship building

time.

[20]  Some parents feel they cannot limit their child’s use of electronic gadgets for many reasons. Perhaps

the electronic device is being used to keep track of a teen’s whereabouts, the item was a gift, the teen

bought the gadget himself or parents say they feel hypocritical because they are modeling the very

behavior they’re asking their kids to stop doing. Still, these technological concerns should not hinder

a parent from helping their child socialize and participate in outdoor activities when it comes to media

[25]  madness.

I have a large measure of confidence that future archeologists and historians will conclude that

innovations such as a code-speak called “Instant Messaging”, or a music box called “iPod” or a makebelieve

room called “MySpace” inexorably set us on a path of alienation and individualism. 

DICK MEYER www.cbsnews.com 

Audio books: all pros, no cons 

What is an audio book? An audio book is a recording of the contents of a book read aloud, created and

distributed on CDs, cassette tapes or other digital formats. They have become quite popular since first

being introduced – roughly 20 years ago – with the CD format in the lead for sales.

One of the pros for audio books is the fact that they support multi-tasking, and can also be stored into

[5]  small devices for easy listening, like an iPod or MP3 Player. For example, you may listen to one and

retrieve the information you would from a regular book while exercising, cleaning around the house,

or just while in the car driving. You would not be able to do any of those activities while reading a

regular book. But while listening to an audio book this becomes possible.

Another pro supporting audio books is the effect it has on children’s motivation and learning. Teaching

[10]  them to read has never been any easier or enjoyable in their favor. By using different types of toys from

favorite cartoon characters to interact with audio books, children are able to learn a usually difficult

subject quite easily while also having a good time.

My final pro supporting an audio book is the fact that people who are unable to read regular books,

due to certain problems they cannot help such as blindness, are certainly able to listen to audio books

[15]  to gather the contents they may need from a regular book. This is a major pro that is a big help to a lot

of people around the world, with no con to argue against it. So why not go and check out some audio

books today and find out for yourself how useful and how fun they are? There are loads of free digital

audio books as well. Therefore, you can test the water for free as well.

http://bookstove.com 

Audio books: all pros, no cons 

What is an audio book? An audio book is a recording of the contents of a book read aloud, created and

distributed on CDs, cassette tapes or other digital formats. They have become quite popular since first

being introduced – roughly 20 years ago – with the CD format in the lead for sales.

One of the pros for audio books is the fact that they support multi-tasking, and can also be stored into

[5]  small devices for easy listening, like an iPod or MP3 Player. For example, you may listen to one and

retrieve the information you would from a regular book while exercising, cleaning around the house,

or just while in the car driving. You would not be able to do any of those activities while reading a

regular book. But while listening to an audio book this becomes possible.

Another pro supporting audio books is the effect it has on children’s motivation and learning. Teaching

[10]  them to read has never been any easier or enjoyable in their favor. By using different types of toys from

favorite cartoon characters to interact with audio books, children are able to learn a usually difficult

subject quite easily while also having a good time.

My final pro supporting an audio book is the fact that people who are unable to read regular books,

due to certain problems they cannot help such as blindness, are certainly able to listen to audio books

[15]  to gather the contents they may need from a regular book. This is a major pro that is a big help to a lot

of people around the world, with no con to argue against it. So why not go and check out some audio

books today and find out for yourself how useful and how fun they are? There are loads of free digital

audio books as well. Therefore, you can test the water for free as well.

http://bookstove.com 

Book reading experience and the ultimate technology

The computer is just a feeble attempt of humankind to replicate the workings of a unique invention,

while science is an attempt to understand the craftsmanship of the greatest masterpiece – Nature.

As we all know, scientists can only replicate carbon-based life forms. They cannot literally make from

out of thin air any genetic material. They rely on raw materials from resources provided by nature. It

[5]  is just like trying to simulate the functions of the human brain by inventing the computer. The brain

is the fastest and most powerful multimedia computer that exists in the present. It is organic, self

upgrading and has high articulation. The computer, on the other hand, cannot help itself without the

intervention of humans.

A computer hooked to the internet provides access to all the knowledge of humanity. However, there

[10]  is a downside about this convenience. It deprives the human brain the necessary thinking skills and

training for data hunting and information processing. A student today only needs to access the internet

to do research homework. However, the learning experience is defeated since it is not the student who

researches the data needed for the school homework but the web browser. So where is the selective

learning process?

[15]  If carrying books is so tiresome, mobile devices like smart phones will do the trick. All a student has to

do is search in a web browser for the Intext free eBook reader, for example, and then hit enter. While

there are lots of commercially available eBooks being offered out there, education must not be so

costly. That’s why there are millions of electronic books downloadable all over the world for free.

Reading books, either printed or the electronic version, provides the learner the essential mental

[20]  training for data hunting, logical reasoning for information processing and the uncanny ability to

differentiate truth from lies, right from wrong, facts from fallacy, real from a hoax and the appropriate

from the inappropriate.

In the process of reading a book, a learner elevates the capacity of the human brain for stimulation of

the senses by indexing information for instant recall and further developing comprehension through

[25]  mental processing of data.

Nature is the “Ultimate Technology” and the human brain is one of its most powerful inventions. We

are zillions of years more advanced as compared to our technology. However, digital media such as

e-texts can surely serve as invaluable and easy to access reading material. Thus, let’s take advantage of

this technology to the fullest by engaging in reading extensively in order to enhance our natural skills

and talents.

JOEFEL CAGAMPANG http://www.goarticles.com