Unit – 5: Prose - Tech Bloomers

Unit – 5: Tech Bloomers

LESSON PLAN for this lesson is given at the end of the answers.

• a. What is the future of technology? The future of technology means that appliances can order their own supplies when they're running low, like a refrigerator ordering milk or ink for printers. You'll also be able to control your TV and home gadgets just by speaking or waving your hand, such as telling your smart TV to show your social media. Even water and energy use can be automatically controlled. Technology is also a big help for people with disabilities, making it easier for them to do daily tasks, travel, talk to others, learn, work, and live comfortably.

• b. How many people in India suffer with disability? Based on the 2011 Census, 2.7 crore people in India have some kind of disability. This means 2.21 out of every 100 people in India live with a disability.

• c. Who is Kim? Kim is the technology helper at Alisha's school. She helps students use special tools.

• d. How does Kim help Alisha? Kim helped Alisha by showing her Dragon Dictate, which is a special computer program that types what you say. Kim taught Alisha how to teach the program to understand her voice. This made Alisha more independent because she could now type by speaking, and it allowed her to study by herself. Kim also helps all 42 students in the school use technology in different ways.

• e. Why is technology important according to David? David thinks technology is important because it helps him talk to people and be on his own. This finally gives him freedom.

• f. Name the instrument which David control with his eye movements. David uses a special Liberator Communication Device that he controls with his eyes to talk. He also uses an ECOpoint Eye Gaze system to talk and use the computer.

• g. What devices help David to move from one place to other? David has a smaller talking device on his walker. He also moves his electric wheelchair using switches he controls with his head.

A. Answer the following questions in two or three sentences.

1. What are the benefits of the internet to the common man?

The internet helps people perform day-to-day activities like shopping, studying, and communicating easily. It has improved comfort and convenience in many aspects of life.

2. Do you think technology has improved communication? How?

Yes, technology has improved communication. Devices like smart phones and software like Dragon Dictate help people, especially the differently-abled, to communicate quickly and efficiently.

3. How does David operate computers with the Liberator Communication Device?

David uses his eye movements to control the Liberator Communication Device. It sends commands to a computer via a Bluetooth adaptor.

4. Which devices are controlled using ACTIV controller?

David controls his TV, Blu-Ray, and music players using the ACTIV controller placed in the headrest of his chair.

5. Who says these words: “I want everyone to know the difference technology has made in my life”?

Alisha says these words. She uses a special software to help her type using her voice.

6. Which software helps Alisha to overcome her difficulty in typing?

The software that helps Alisha is called Dragon Dictate. It converts her spoken words into text.

7. Name a few Indian innovations which are helpful to the disabled and make their day to day life easier.

Some Indian innovations are:

Lechal Shoes (by Krispian Lawrence)

Blee Watch (by Nupura Kirloskar and Janhavi Joshi)

IGEST (by Anil Prabhakar)

8. Is it possible to control the computer screen with eye gaze?

Yes, it is possible. People with limited movement can use Eye Gaze technology to control the screen using their eyes.

9. Suggest ways of making our society inclusive.

We should create more awareness, remove physical and social barriers, and promote equal opportunities. Technology should be made accessible to everyone.

10. How would you help the people with disabilities in your neighborhood?

I would help them by being kind, assisting in their daily tasks, and teaching them how to use helpful technologies if they are unaware of them.

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B. Answer in a paragraph of about 100–150 words.

1. How do we use technology in our day to day lives?

Technology is a part of our everyday life. We use mobile phones to stay in touch with family and friends. Smart devices help us control appliances, get information, and even order items online. Students use computers to attend classes and do homework. In the kitchen, appliances like refrigerators and kettles work automatically. In transportation, GPS helps us reach destinations easily. Technology also helps in banking, shopping, and entertainment. Assistive technologies like voice recognition and Eye Gaze help people with disabilities live more independently. Thus, technology makes our lives easier, faster, and more convenient.

2. “Technology is a boon to the disabled”. Justify.

Technology has changed the lives of people with disabilities. It helps them communicate, learn, and be independent. For example, Alisha uses Dragon Dictate to type using her voice, and David uses Eye Gaze and ECO2 devices to communicate and even teach. Assistive devices like the Liberator Communication Device and ACTIV controller help in daily tasks. Indian innovations like Lechal Shoes and Blee Watch help the disabled navigate and feel sounds. Technology provides new opportunities for the differently-abled to study, work, and participate in society like everyone else. It truly empowers them.

C. Pick out the contractions from the lesson and expand them.

Contractions Expansions

Contraction	Expansion(s)
I’d	I would / I had
I’m	I am
I’ve	I have
She’s	She is / She has
He’s	He is / He has
We’d	We would / We had
We’ll	We will
That’s	That is / That has
You’re	You are
Don’t	Do not
Didn’t	Did not
Can’t	Cannot
It’s	It is / It has
There’s	There is / There has
What’s	What is / What has

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D. Expand the following abbreviations or acronyms.

Abbreviation	Expansion
SIM	Subscriber Identity Module
ISRO	Indian Space Research Organisation
WHO	World Health Organization
CCTV	Closed-Circuit Television
HDMI	High-Definition Multimedia Interface
LASER	Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation
MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
CRY	Child Rights and You
RAM	Random Access Memory
ROM	Read Only Memory
CPU	Central Processing Unit
ALU	Arithmetic Logic Unit

E. Complete the sentences with the correct abbreviations or acronyms.

1. My dad wakes up very early in the morning because he has to be at work at 6.00 a.m.

2. Socrates, the famous Classical Greek Athenian philosopher, died in 399 BCE.

3. Leonardo Da Vinci was a famous Italian polymath, a painter, a sculptor, an architect, a musician, a scientist etc.

4. I usually return home from work at 10.30 p.m.

5. John downloaded a clip from YouTube in HD quality.

6. There are many irregular verbs in the English language, e.g. break, do, make.

7. I’m watching a great football match, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid.

8. Humans who dive without protection can survive 300 m under water.

9. An 11-year-old girl just beat Einstein on an IQ test.

10. We used the GPS facility to track the location.

Let me know if you'd like this in a different format!

1. a.m. – ante meridiem (before noon)

2. BCE – Before Common Era

3. etc. – et cetera (and so on)

4. p.m. – post meridiem (after noon)

5. HD – High Definition

6. e.g. – exempli gratia (for example)

7. vs. – versus (against)

8. m – meter (in this context, it refers to meters)

9. IQ – Intelligence Quotient

10. GPS – Global Positioning System

1. a.m. – ante meridiem (before noon)

2. BCE – Before Common Era

3. etc. – et cetera (and so on)

4. p.m. – post meridiem (after noon)

5. HD – High Definition

6. e.g. – exempli gratia (for example)

7. vs. – versus (against)

8. m – meter (in this context, it refers to meters)

9. IQ – Intelligence Quotient

10. GPS – Global Positioning System

F. Listen to the passage and state whether the statements are true (T), false (F) or no information (N).

Hello! I’m Santhiya. I want to write about my mobile phone. I got it from my parents for my birthday two years back. I like it very much and I think it’s sometimes good to have it in my bag. I always keep it in my bag or in my pocket so my parents and my friends can always call me. It’s got a calculator in it so I use it frequently to calculate. It’s also a kind of information file. I can use my mobile phone to connect to the Internet and look through the news or read emails. Isn’t it fantastic? Last year I was cycling with my friend on a holiday with my friend. We went cycling but the weather wasn’t good. It was cold and windy. It started to rain and it got dark. Suddenly my friend fell off her bike and broke her leg. At first I didn’t know what to do but then I thought about my phone. It was in my backpack so I telephoned for help. After fifteen minutes a doctor arrived. Sometimes people are not keen on mobile phones. They are a real problem because they always ring at the wrong moment. I’m not crazy about my mobile phone but I feel safe when I have it with me.

1. Santhiya can’t live without her mobile phone.
   Answer: T (True)

2. She got her mobile in January.
   Answer: N (No Information)

3. Her parents bought her the mobile phone one year ago.
   Answer: F (False)

4. There’s a calculator in her mobile.
   Answer: T (True)

5. She can connect to the Internet on her mobile.
   Answer: T (True)

6. She usually listens to music on her mobile.
   Answer: T (True)

7. She can’t read emails on her mobile.
   Answer: F (False)

8. There are often a lot of problems with mobile phones.
   Answer: T (True)

9. Santhiya always talks on her mobile to her friends.
   Answer: N (No Information)

10. She doesn’t like mobile phones.
    Answer: F (False)

G. Listen to the passage again and answer the questions.

1. Where does Santhiya keep her mobile?
   She keeps her mobile in her bag or pocket.

2. What can she use it for?
   She can use it to take photos, send emails, listen to music, and connect to the internet.

3. When was she cycling?
   She was cycling during her holiday.

4. What happened there?
   She had an accident while cycling.

5. How did Santhiya solve the problem?
   She phoned for help using her mobile phone.

H. Complete the sentences after reading the passage.

1. Santhiya’s parents and friends can always ___________ her.
   Answer: contact

2. Her mobile phone is also a kind of ___________________.
   Answer: mini computer

3. On the cycling holiday after the accident, Santhiya phoned for __________.
   Answer: help

4. Mobile phones often ___________ at the wrong moment.
   Answer: ring

5. Children can feel ________________ when they have their mobile phones with them.
   Answer: safe

I. Public Speaking – Prepare and Present

These tasks are for writing and presentation practice.

1. Prepare a welcome address on the occasion of Republic Day celebration.

Answer:

“Good morning to one and all present here. It is my pleasure to welcome you all to the Republic Day celebration. On this day, we honour the birth of our Constitution and the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality. I extend a warm welcome to our respected Chief Guest, Principal, teachers, and fellow students. Let’s celebrate our Republic with pride and patriotism.”

2. Prepare a Vote of Thanks on the occasion of Independence Day celebration.

Answer:

“Respected Chief Guest, Principal, teachers, and friends, good morning. It is my honour to deliver the vote of thanks on this glorious Independence Day. I sincerely thank our Chief Guest for joining us and sharing their thoughts. My heartfelt thanks to our Principal, teachers, and parents for organising this event. Jai Hind!”

3. Mock anchoring for annual day celebration.

Answer:

“Good evening everyone! It gives me great joy to welcome you all to our school’s Annual Day celebration. I am your host for the evening. Get ready for a colourful journey of dance, drama, music, and achievements. Let’s begin this celebration with our school song.”

4. Collect images of some electronic gadgets and play a JAM (Just A Minute) game.

Activity-based:

Students pick a gadget image (e.g., smartphone, tablet, smart watch, VR headset) and speak about it for one minute, describing its use and benefits.

J. Read the comic strip and answer the questions.

1. What do you mean by cyber safety?
   Cyber safety means using the internet in a safe and responsible way to avoid dangers like scams, hacking, and bullying.

2. How do you behave in a virtual platform?
   I should be respectful, responsible, and avoid sharing personal information with strangers.

3. Can we read and access the information free of cost?
   Some information is free to access, while others may require payment or permission.

4. Do you think that all the information online can be used without any permission?
   No, not all information can be used freely. We must respect copyrights and give credit to sources.

5. Which website do you often access? Why?
   I often access Google for information and YouTube for educational videos because they are easy to use and informative.

K. Fill in the missing words in this email.

Question:

Dear sir,

In ______ to your mail, I have prepared a ______ for the Science Fest. Please find ______ the ______ for your kind perusal. I look ______ to hearing from you.

Sincerely

Answer:

Dear sir,

In response to your mail, I have prepared a project for the Science Fest. Please find attached the details for your kind perusal. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely

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L. Write an email to your teacher about the interesting English model that you have prepared for the literary fest.

Answer:

To: english.teacher@schoolmail.com

Subject: English Model for Literary Fest

Dear Sir/Madam,

I hope you are doing well. I am writing to inform you that I have prepared an interesting model for the upcoming literary fest. The model is based on famous English authors and their works. It includes quotes, pictures, and creative displays. I look forward to presenting it in the exhibition.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

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M. Message Writing – Practice Exercise

Question:

You are the receptionist of your school. Your Headmaster instructs you to send a message to all the parents of class X to attend a PTA (Parent Teacher Association) meeting to be held in the following week.

Answer (Message Format):

Message

Date: [Insert Date]

Time: [Insert Time]

All parents of Class X are requested to attend the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meeting to be held next week. The schedule will be informed soon. Kindly make it convenient to attend.

[Receptionist Name]

School Office.

N. Blogging

1. What is a blog?

A blog is a type of website where people write and share content regularly in the form of posts. It can be about news, opinions, hobbies, or educational topics.

2. What do bloggers usually write about?

Bloggers write about various topics like personal experiences, tutorials, product reviews, current events, and more.

3. What is the main purpose of a blog?

The main purpose of a blog is to inform, educate, entertain, or express personal views and knowledge.

4. Who is a blogger?

A blogger is a person who writes content and manages a blog.

5. How can students use blogs?

Students can use blogs to publish their writing, share ideas, improve language skills, and communicate with a wider audience.

6. Can blogs help improve English? How?

Yes, blogs help improve English by encouraging students to write, read, and express ideas clearly. They can also get feedback and learn new vocabulary and grammar through reading)?

.

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Lesson Plan: Unit 5 – Prose: "Tech Bloomers"

1. Learning Objectives: By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

• Understand how technology simplifies daily life for ordinary individuals.
• Identify specific examples of how technology empowers people with special needs.
• Recognize key Indian innovations in assistive technology.
• Discuss the broader impact of technology on society, including its positive and negative aspects.
• Comprehend and use new vocabulary related to technology and disability from the text.

2. Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to apply the knowledge learned by:

• Explaining how current and future technological advancements can automate daily chores.
• Analyzing how technology provides independence and improves the quality of life for individuals with disabilities.
• Proposing ways to make society more inclusive through technology.
• Reflecting on the responsible use of technology and its societal implications.

3. Introduction: The teacher will introduce the lesson by asking thought-provoking questions related to the theme of technology:

• "Have you ever thought that your refrigerator can order stuff on its own?"
• "What if your kettle could make tea for you when you're stuck in traffic, so it's ready the moment you reach home?"
• "How does managing entertainment and home appliances by voice commands or by swapping a finger relate to today's reality?"
• "What do you infer from the images of electronic gadgets shown at the beginning of the unit?"
• "If you were given a chance to remodel a device, which one would you choose, and what changes would you bring?"

4. Reading and Understanding:

• Students will read the prose selection "Tech Bloomers".
• They will identify unfamiliar words and phrases and refer to the glossary provided in the sources to understand their meanings (e.g., grapple, inclusion, cerebral palsy, Dragon Dictate, assistive technologist, gaze, Liberator Communication Device, cloister, collaborative process).
• Students will also engage with the text by answering the "in-text" questions as they read (e.g., "What is the future of technology?", "Who is Kim?").

5. Mind Map: Students will create a mind map or flow chart to visually organize the key concepts of the lesson. The central theme would be "Technology's Impact.".         

• Main Branches:
  • Technology in Daily Life: (e.g., self-ordering appliances, voice commands for home management, energy automation).
  • Empowering the Disabled: (e.g., overcoming physical barriers, communication, independence).
  • Specific Examples:
    • Alisha: (e.g., cerebral palsy, Dragon Dictate, Eye Gaze, independence in studying).
    • David: (e.g., Athetoid Cerebral Palsy, Liberator Communication Device, ACTIV controller, ECO2 with ECO point, participation in sports and performing arts).
  • Indian Innovations: (e.g., Lechal Shoes, Blee Watch, IGEST).
  • Overall Impact/Message: (e.g., inclusivity, confidence, overcoming impairments, "learning for all").

6. Consolidation and Presentation: The teacher will lead a discussion to consolidate understanding and present a summary of the lesson:

• "Tech Bloomers" highlights how technology makes life easier for everyone and serves as a significant benefit for citizens with special needs.
• The lesson illustrates this through the experiences of Alisha, who uses Dragon Dictate to overcome typing difficulties, and David, who utilizes various devices like the Liberator Communication Device and ECO2 with ECO point for communication and independence.
• It also showcases Indian innovations such as Lechal Shoes, Blee Watch, and IGEST, which cater to different disabilities.
• The overarching message is that technology can help disabled individuals make friends, communicate, control their environment, study, gain qualifications, find work opportunities, and ultimately become confident and independent, leading to a more inclusive way of learning.

7. Reinforcement: The teacher will provide additional information and details to reinforce the concepts:

• Discussion on the ethical implications of technological advancements mentioned (e.g., privacy with smart home devices).
• Elaborate on the "Indian Innovations" (Lechal Shoes, Blee Watch, IGEST) by discussing their specific functionalities and how they address particular needs.
• Highlight the significance of individuals like Stephen Hawking as prime examples of how assistive technology has enabled talented minds to overcome physical impairments and contribute productively to the world.
• Encourage students to research other famous personalities who have benefited from assistive technology.
• Reiterate that technology's impact is determined by its use, emphasizing the importance of positive application.

8. Evaluation: The teacher will ask students three questions to evaluate their understanding:

• a) Lower Order Thinking Question (LOTS):

  • "According to the 2011 Census, what percentage of India's population is disabled?"

• b) Middle Order Thinking Question (MOTS):

  • "How did the Liberator Communication Device transform David's ability to communicate, and what other devices does he use for control?"

• c) Higher Order Thinking Question (HOTS):

  • "The text states, 'Technology impacts the environment, people and the society as a whole. The way we use technology determines if its impacts are positive to the society or negative.' Based on your understanding of the lesson and current world events, discuss one potential negative impact of technology not explicitly detailed in the text, and suggest how it could be mitigated."

9. Remedial Teaching: For slow learners, the teacher will:

• Provide simplified summaries of the text.
• Offer one-on-one support to clarify difficult concepts and vocabulary.
• Utilize visual aids and short video clips demonstrating the technologies discussed.
• Encourage peer learning by pairing them with stronger students for reading and discussion activities.
• Break down complex sentences into simpler parts to aid comprehension.

10. Writing: Students will be asked to complete a writing task:

• "Imagine you are an advocate for people with disabilities. Write a short article (around 100-120 words) for your school magazine, detailing how one specific technology from the lesson (e.g., Eye Gaze, Lechal Shoes, Liberator Communication Device) can make a significant difference in the daily life of a person with special needs."

11. Follow Up: The teacher will assign homework or activities:

• Homework: Research and present one additional assistive technology not mentioned in the lesson that could help someone with a specific disability.
• Activity: In groups, discuss and prepare a short presentation on "How technology can help us create a more inclusive school environment for all students." (This relates to the broader learning outcome of making society inclusive.)