Innovative Technology Changes Life
FoundationArtificial intelligence learns and judges, big data finds patterns, and the Internet of Things connects objects; technology brings convenience, but guard your privacy.
- Three innovations: AI, big data and IoT.
- AI learns and judges; assistants and face recognition are common uses.
- Big data finds patterns, making cities smarter.
文體小知識：說明文把新科技講得明明白白。這一篇介紹人工智能、大數據和物聯網，還提醒你保護個人私隱。
§Text Passage
1In the morning a smart speaker wakes you by voice; on the way to school a beep of your Octopus card pays the fare; back home, a robot vacuum has already cleaned the floor. Behind these conveniences are three innovative technologies — artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things — changing our lives.
2Artificial intelligence, AI, is technology that lets computers imitate human learning and judgement. It understands voice commands, recognises faces in photos, plays chess and translates languages. Voice assistants, face sorting in photo albums and hospital software that helps doctors read X-rays are all applications of AI. It grows smarter with use, because it learns from huge numbers of examples.
3Big data means information so vast that ordinary methods cannot handle it. Computers find patterns inside: transport departments tune traffic lights using road data, the Observatory improves forecasts with weather data, and shops arrange goods by customers' preferences. Big data is a treasure chest; those who can analyse it dig out useful knowledge.
4The Internet of Things, IoT, connects everyday objects to the internet so they can talk. Smart locks, bulbs and cameras join the home network, and our phones switch on lights, lock doors and check home remotely; city meters report readings automatically, making management more efficient.
5Innovative technology brings many benefits: e-payment makes buying quick and reduces the risk of cash; smart homes keep the elderly safer; telemedicine lets patients in remote areas see doctors; translation software breaks language barriers. Technology also creates new careers, such as data analysts and robot engineers.
6Still, convenience has a price of care. Devices collect our personal data — locations and preferences — and a leak threatens privacy and safety. So use strong passwords, share no personal details casually, download apps only from official stores; and limit screen time, for life beyond the screen is wonderful too.
1Summary 重點摘要
Artificial intelligence learns and judges, big data finds patterns, and the Internet of Things connects objects; technology brings convenience, but guard your privacy.
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Technology letting computers imitate human learning and judgement, or AI.
Data so vast that only computers can analyse it to find patterns.
Technology connecting objects to the internet so they can communicate, or IoT.
A home whose lights, locks and appliances join the network for phone control.
Paying by Octopus card, phone apps and other electronic means.
Smart software that hears voice commands and answers questions.
The right to keep personal information and life to oneself.
Information identifying you, such as name, address and photos.
The secret string guarding accounts — long, complex and private.
Measures keeping computer systems and data safe from theft or damage.
3Step by step Steps
- Step 1: Know what innovative technology isInnovative technology means techniques developing fast in recent years and bringing new changes to life, chiefly three: artificial intelligence, big data and the Internet of Things. AI makes computers able to learn and judge; big data finds patterns in oceans of information; IoT connects objects so they can talk. The three often work together: in a smart home, sensors gather data, and AI analyses it to adjust lights and air-conditioning automatically.
- Step 2: See AI in actionArtificial intelligence, or AI, understands speech, recognises images, translates languages and plays chess. Examples are everywhere: phone voice assistants play music on command; photo albums sort pictures by faces automatically; navigation apps predict jams; hospitals use AI to help read X-rays and lab reports. Its skill comes from learning: the more examples it is fed, the sharper its judgement — which is why data matters so much to AI.
- Step 3: Understand how big data finds patternsBig data is information on a giant scale — citywide traffic speeds, years of weather records, an online shop's transactions. Human brains cannot handle it, but computers analyse it fast to uncover hidden patterns: traffic lights adjust themselves to the flow; the Observatory refines typhoon forecasts by comparing decades of data; health departments track how diseases spread. Big-data analysis makes cities run smarter and decisions better grounded.
- Step 4: Know IoT and the smart homeThe Internet of Things, IoT, hooks everyday objects to the internet: smart locks open by phone and log entries; smart bulbs switch on by schedule or voice; robot vacuums clean and return to charge by themselves. Connected together, these become a smart home — a fall sensor can alert family at once for elderly people living alone. Citywide, electricity and water meters and traffic sensors report automatically, making supply and traffic management more efficient.
- Step 5: Weigh technology's effects on lifeThe benefits are clear: e-payment is quick and lowers the risks of cash; telemedicine brings doctors to remote patients; translation breaks language barriers; robots take on dangerous work. Technology also creates new careers and new ways to learn. Yet beware: over-relying on devices cuts exercise and face-to-face talk; elders may not know the new tools, so we can teach them patiently so that everyone benefits.
- Step 6: Guard privacy and stay safeSmart devices collect personal data — locations, voices, preferences — and a leak may let bad actors misuse it. Protection: set long, complex passwords and change them regularly; never share personal details with strangers; download apps only from official stores and check their permission requests; avoid handling sensitive information on public Wi-Fi. Follow the rules parents set, surf healthily, and be a smart, safe digital citizen.
5Worked example Example
Example: Yan's home has smart devices: a smart lock, a speaker that obeys voice commands, automatic lighting; Father paid for dinner by e-payment on his phone. Name the technologies involved, their benefits, and what to watch out for.
- The speaker hears commands and answers — an application of AI speech recognition.
- The lock, lights and other devices connect over the home network for remote control — the Internet of Things.
- E-payment processes countless transactions by computer — big data with encryption.
- Benefits: life is quicker and easier, the elderly and less mobile are safer, and no cash needs carrying.
- Cautions: use strong passwords, share no personal data casually, and check app permissions to protect privacy.
- Answer: The voice-obeying speaker uses AI; the linked lock and lighting use the Internet of Things; e-payment relies on big data and encryption to handle transactions. The benefits are convenience, a safer home and cashless payment. At the same time protect privacy: strong passwords, official app stores only, no casual sharing of personal data, and checking permissions — enjoying technology while staying a safe digital citizen.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What does AI stand for?
Q2Which technology finds patterns in oceans of data?
Q3Which technology lets home appliances connect and talk?
Q4What must we especially guard when using smart devices?
Q5How do you set a safe password?
8Recap Recap
- Three innovations: AI, big data and IoT.
- AI learns and judges; assistants and face recognition are common uses.
- Big data finds patterns, making cities smarter.
- IoT links objects — smart homes and e-payment depend on it.
- Enjoy tech but guard privacy: strong passwords, careful downloads, limited screen time.