Open World p 74. New Technologies. Listening

Script

Narrator: Extract one. You hear two friends talking about Bitcoin, a type of digital currency.

Male: I've been wondering whether I should buy some Bitcoin.

Female: Mmm, well, at one point the price of Bitcoin fell over 80% within just a few months.

So, I suppose it depends whether you could stand to lose that money.

If you can, go ahead. You might just make a profit.

Male: Well, what I've read is that if you educate yourself and follow a few simple rules, you can reduce your risk.

For example, there are different exchanges you can buy from and you need to make sure you buy from one with a proven reputation.

Then, it's advisable not to leave your Bitcoins on the exchange, but move them into your own personal online wallet.

Female: Well, I don't doubt that's true but however many safeguards you put in place, you can still get drawn into some very sophisticated scams.

For instance, a friend of mine, a real tech wiz, was persuaded by an online friend to join a scheme which promised to double his Bitcoin.

Sure enough, for the first month or so, he was getting what he had been promised.

But suddenly the website just vanished - along with his money.

And that guy supposedly knew what he was doing.






Narrator: Extract two. You hear two friends talking about online crime.

Female: Would you say the internet has made it easier to commit crimes like fraud?

Male: Absolutely! The internet definitely facilitates crime and also diversifies criminal activity.

In the past, there was a limit to what fraudsters could accomplish, but now the number of ways to trick people out of their money is almost limitless.

Female: But don't you think people in general need to wise-up?

If they weren't so greedy, they wouldn't fall for these scams.

I mean, say someone sends you an email, a letter or whatever saying you've won a prize in a competition that, by the way, you didn't enter, but you need to send money to claim your prize ... surely you'd be suspicious ...

Male: Well, you do have a point there, but some people are very trusting.

For instance, imagine a woman in her 80s. All her life she has taken people at face value.

A poor old lady like that is a gift to these tricksters.

It's vulnerable people like that that need to be protected.

Female: Yes, well, I can't argue with that.

I'd support the harshest penalties being given to people who exploit the weaknesses of others like that.




Narrator: Extract three. You hear two friends discussing the use of robots.



Male: So, do you think using robots in the workplace enhances the work environment?

Female: Well, they certainly have the edge over humans in some areas.

Think about going into a radioactive zone after a leak in a nuclear reactor, for example.

And there are some jobs, like cleaning the sewers, that are intolerable for humans but robots don't feel disgust and can't smell, so they are not bothered.

Male: Yes, you've got a point there, but what I've heard is that the jobs for humans that operate alongside robots have become less challenging and actually rather tedious.

I'll give you an example. I read about a man who used to deliver materials within a huge factory.

He really enjoyed his job as he moved around and got to know everyone in different departments.

Then a robot took his job.

He was stuck in one place, doing one boring part of the process the robot couldn't handle.

His job satisfaction plummeted.

Female: That's a fair point and it is unfortunate, but I'm also sure it boosted productivity.

It's like in farming. A lot of the poetry and interaction has gone but overall more is produced.

So, what's more important?

 

Vocabulary

safeguard (against something) something that is designed to protect people from harm, risk or danger.

E.g.

Stronger legal safeguards are needed to protect the consumer. 

The measures have been introduced as a safeguard against fraud.


as a safeguard against ... Sp. como defensa contra ... 

 

put in place: implement.

E.g. The school has put measures in place to ensure no stranger can gain access to the building. 

 

draw into: involve. Sp. involucrar

E.g. Don't draw me into your problems!

 

whiz, whizz, wiz: expert, skilled person. Sp. genio

E.g.

My little sister's a real computer whiz. 

 

scheme: /skiːm/ a plan or system for doing or organizing something.

E.g. 

a local scheme for recycling newspapers

 

sure enough ​used to say that something happened as expected. Sp. efectivamente

E.g.

I said he'd forget, and sure enough he did. 

‘Stop,’ she said, ‘I can hear something.’ Sure enough, in the distance we could hear the sound of a car 

approaching

wise up (to something) ​(informal) to become aware of the unpleasant truth about a situation. Sp. abrir los ojos.

E.g.

Consumers need to wise up to the effect that advertising has on them.

Wise up and sort yourselves out before it's too late.

 

fall for something to be tricked into believing something that is not true. Sp. dejarse engañar por.

E.g.

I'm surprised you fell for that trick.

 

have aˈpoint (there) have made a good suggestion; have a good idea.

E.g.

He's got a point there; if you sell the house now you'll lose money, so why not wait till next year?

 

trusting: tending to believe that other people are good, honest, etc. Sp. confiado.

E.g.

If you're too trusting, other people will take advantage of you. 

 

take someone or something at face value: to accept someone or something just as it appears; to believe that the way things appear is the way they really are.

E.g.

It's hard to take Jeff at face value when he's been caught lying in the past.

He means what he says. You have to take him at face value. 

I take everything he says at face value.

You can't take what she says at face value: she always has an agenda. Sp. No puedes tomar todo lo que dice al pie de la letra; ella siempre tiene intenciones ocultas.

 

harsh: cruel, severe and unkind. Sp. duro, severo.

E.g. 

The punishment was harsh and unfair. 

The minister received some harsh criticism. 

the harsh treatment of prisoners 

He regretted his harsh words. 

We had to face up to the harsh realities of life sooner or later. It may seem harsh to criticize him after his death.

 

penalty: punishment. Sp. castigo.

E.g. The penalty for your crimes is ten years' imprisonment.

 

exploit: /ɪkˈsplɔɪt/ take advantage of . Sp. explotar, abusar.

E.g.

Corporations systematically exploited their workers until they formed labour unions

 

have the edge over: to have an advantage over one. 

E.g.

I've been preparing for this debate for weeks so that I have the edge over my opponent  

 

disgust: physical revulsion Sp. repugnancia, asco.

E.g.

The idea fills me with disgust.

 

overall: in general.

E.g.

Overall, he did a fairly good job.