Introduction
Every year, technological devices become faster, smaller, and smarter. Your cell phone holds more information than the room-sized computers that sent a man to the moon.
In this project we are going to "examine" modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.
"If technology is a drug – and it does feel like a drug – then what, precisely, are the side effects? This area – between delight and discomfort – is where Black Mirror is set. The 'black mirror' of the title is the one you'll find on every wall, on every desk, in the palm of every hand: the cold, shiny screen of a TV, a monitor, or a smartphone."
Driving on autopilot
Auto engineers face a paradox: how to design an autonomous vehicle that feels safe but reminds us that no driver, human or artificial, is perfect. Simon Parkin reports on learning to trust a self-driving car.
A) Discuss the following questions before you read the article:
1) What do you associate with the word 'Tesla'?
2) What could be the problems of a car driving on autopilot?
3) Would you like to sit in a car driving on autopilot? Why (not)?
4) Have a loot at Tesla's website. What do you think of the technology presented here?
http://www.tesla.com/models
B) Summary
After having read the text, you are now going to write a summary
1) Go through the text and highlight the topic sentences of every paragraph.
2) Read the sentences you have highlighted and see if together they form a good summary of the text. Make changes if you are not happy.
3) Look at each other's sentences and compare/contrast. Discuss if you can agree on the same sentences.
4) Write your own summary in your own words with your chosen sentences.
5) When finished swop and check each other's work.
C) Reaction
Shortly after the accident with the Tesa, the company issued a blog post of what happened and how the accident could be explained. Read the blog post and write a short reaction to the post. (100-150 words)
http://www.tesla.com/blog/tragic-loss
1) Read the blog and write down what you want to react to.
2) Write down key words.
3) Start by saying what you want to react to.
4) Write a draft: keep writing and do not stop.
5) Read through your draft and structure it.
6) Check for spelling and grammar errors.
7) Count the number of words.
Frankenstein
Two hundred years after Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein, we look at how today's scientists can create life in the lab
A) What do you know?
Create a mindmap with the word Frankenstein in the middle.
B) Reading
......
C) Discuss
You have now read the text. Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1) Do you believe it will be possible to create a fully functioning artificial being?
2) What are the risks involved?
3) What are the ethical constraints according to you?
4) What are the differences with creating a robot?
D) The future
http://bit.ly/wr-frank1
http://bit.ly/wr-frank2
Watch the clips and see how science has advanced a lot concerning prosthetic limbs! Do you think a step further could be made, and if so how? Is there an end to what science can do or will development go on forever?
In pairs you are going to write a short essay on the topic.
1) Brainstrorm. What do you think can happen in the future? What further advancements can be made, e.g., with regard to prosthetic limbs?
2) What is needed to make these advancements and how long will it take for scientists to realise them?
3) Think of a key statement.
4) Write down arguments to support your statements. Think of examples.
5) Create an interesting introduction. (Use a funny anecdote, some shocking figures, a controversial quote, or some other device to get the attention of your audience.
Be Right Back
A) Imagine… (Either 1 or 2)
1) After a school day you go home and your dad is waiting for you at the door. He tells you to come inside and sit down. He gives you a glass of water and says the following: "I’m sorry love, but I am afraid you have to stop coming here. It has been days now. Your mom is really freaking out! You know you have been in a terrible accident and you know you did not make it. The funeral is next week. This is your last chance to let us know what arrangements you would like to make concerning your body and what sort of funeral or mourning procedures or rites you would like carried out. Why? Be as specific as possible". Write your own funeral instructions, obituary and eulogy.
2) If you were reasonably certain that you had only one more year to live, how would you try to spend it? Be as specific as you can: people (names and relation to you); books, places to visit; activities; type of things to write or make; way of handling your death with those you meet, family, friends and strangers; decisions about hospitals and drugs etc. What if you had only one month? What if you had one day? Why aren't you doing some of these things now? Write your Bucketlist!
B) What if….?
Martha and Ash are a young couple who move to a remote house in the countryside. Ash is a social media addict and compulsively checks his phone for updates on his social network pages. The day after moving into the house, Ash is killed returning the hire van. At the funeral, Martha's friend Sarah tells her about a new online service that lets people stay in touch with the deceased….
While watching make notes of the plot twists. A plot twist is a radical change in the expected direction or outcome of the plot. It is a common practice in narration used to keep the interest of an audience, usually surprising them with a revelation. Some "twists" are foreshadowed. When a plot twist happens near the end of a story, especially if it changes one's view of the preceding events, it is known as a surprise ending. Sometimes people use a plot twist to describe a sudden change of a situation in real life.
After watching write a summary, but…replace the plot twists with your own twists!
C) Discuss in pairs : cloning.
What is cloning?
What are the advantages of cloning?
What are the disadvantages of cloning?
Do you think animals should be cloned?
Do you think vegetables should be modified?
What are the ethical concerns about cloning?
Are you against or in favor of cloning? Why?
How does cloning affect our lives?
Can you name some animals that have been cloned?
What do you think about eating the meat from cloned animals?
What is your opinion on the episode you have just watched?
D) Formal Letter
Situation:
Martha and Ash were a young couple who moved to a remote house in the countryside. Ash was a social media addict and compulsively checked his phone for updates on his social network pages. The day after moving into the house, Ash was killed returning the hire van. At the funeral, Martha's friend Sarah told her about a new online service that lets people stay in touch with the deceased….
Assignment:
Martha used the services but isn’t quite happy with the end result. Imagine you’re Martha. You decide to write a letter to the company expressing your dissatisfaction.
A) Write a paragraph explaining how you came to use the services.
B) Write a paragraph explaining the events while using the services.
C) Write a paragraph explaining why you are not satisfied with the services provided.
Use the formal letter conventions
Address:
AI Company
41 Woodbury Drive
Sutton
SM2 5RA
United Kingdom
Hand in
So.. What to hand in?
Individually or with a partner you hand in your Black Mirror Project containing the following assignments:
1) Summary Autopilot
2) Reaction Autopilot
3) Mindmap Frankenstein
4) The Future Frankenstein
5) Imagine Be Right Back
6) What if? Be Right Back
7) Formal letter Be right Back
Texts
Sources
1) Wasp Reporter Thieme Meulenhoff
2) Black Mirror ( Original Netflix Series)
