Explaining developments & trends Read an article based on the United Nations Technology and Innovation Report 2021. Highlight the phrases that explain developments or milestones. The first one has been done for you. Reading 14 a CATCHING TECHNOLOGICAL WAVES Innovation with equity Human development in recent decades has been accompanied by rapid changes in technology and an increasing proliferation of digitized devices and services. And the pace of change seems likely to accelerate as a result of “frontier technologies” such as artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. These technologies have already brought enormous benefits – dramatically highlighted in 2020 by the accelerated development of coronavirus vaccines. But rapid advances can have serious downsides if they outpace the ability of societies to adapt. There are fears, for example, that jobs are disappearing as more economic activity is automated, and that social media are worsening divisions, anxiety and doubt. Overall, there are concerns that frontier technologies will further widen inequalities, or create new ones. Most of these issues have been voiced in developed countries. But the implications could be even more serious for developing countries – if poor communities and countries are either overwhelmed or simply left behind. The United Nations Technology and Innovation Report considers how developing countries can catch the wave of frontier technologies, balancing innovation with equity in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals. We live in an age of dramatic technological advances, mostly concentrated in developed countries, but the great divides between countries that we see today started with the onset of the first Industrial Revolution. At that point most people were equally poor and the gaps in per capita income between countries were much smaller. Then, with waves of technological change, Western Europe and its offshoots – Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States – along with Japan, pulled ahead. Most other countries remained on the periphery. Every wave of progress was associated with sharper inequality between countries – with widening disparities in access to products, social services and public goods – from education to health, from information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure to electrification. Nevertheless, a few countries, notably in East Asia, have caught up quickly through technological learning, imitation and innovation. Based on current figures, these Asian countries are going to continue their rapid technological advance. Work in pairs. Compare the phrases you have highlighted. Group the phrases according to the tenses that are used. Which tenses are used to: 1 report an event or milestone that occurred some time ago? 2 talk about an ongoing development? 3 describe the status quo or give factual information? 4 explain a development leading up to now? 5 give an outlook on possible future trends or developments? 6 talk about probable developments based on current evidence? Compare your results in class. b Language skills Extras Explore 9 Technology and science 123 Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv
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