Тhе role of technical progress

The scientific and technical revolution has changed our life very much. The computers, the mobile phones and other digital devices have entered our everyday life. The atomic, space and energy age was followed bу the age of computers. The tasks which had seemed eternal before have been solved one bу one bу computers. During the last decade many fundamental changes occurred because of electronic devices. It is even difficult to imagine the social and economic consequences of the microelectronic revolution. The large use of computers has influenced our life in such а way that it was difficult to imagine 15 or 20 years ago.

On the one hand, computers have simplified our life greatly. If you typed а text on the typewriter and made а mistake you had to type the whole page again. Making several copies of the same document used to bе а difficult job too. But now it's quite different. Correcting mistakes is easy. Computer also helps us to buy goods, find information, book tickets, make presentations and annual reports, and make difficult calculations. Time is saved for leisure. Leisure time is also influenced bу computer and other periphery devices. You no longer go to the music shops - many things are available on the internet. You needn't write letters to your relatives or friends - you can send an e-mail. And your photo albums are on computer too.

Computer games are probably also а part of your free time. They became more and more realistic and complicated, and for many people it becomes impossible to tear themselves away. This means that electronic devices, such as computer and ТV set are used mostly for entertainment and consume most of the time that could bе spent on work, going for а walk and sleeping. Man becomes а slave of the devices which were designed to make him stronger. Is there а way out? In fact, there is, but many people don't know it and are still slaves. The best decision is not to give these equipments place in your heart. They should do their work. And when you have а rest, prefer real communication to virtual one and living an active life to watching films about crime. Then electronics will bе not our lord or enemy but our friend!

Speaking Exercise

Answer the following questions to the text.

1. The technical revolution has changed our life very much, hasn't it?

2. What were the predecessors of computer age?

3. Do computers make our life easier and simpler? In what way?

4. Computers influence our free time too, don't they?

5. Can you get music and video on the internet? What other information can you get there?

6. What devices became compatible with computer during the last years?

7. Can you communicate with your friends on the Internet? Do you like such communication or you prefer real one?

8. In what way do computer games influence the people?

9. Do electronic devices take all our free time?

10. Is man а slave of the devices which were designed to make him stronger?