06 High Tech

High-Tech Advances
You have decided to specialize in a domain that is evolving at a great pace.
Innovations abound. They make our lives easier, faster, they open a
seemingly unending world of new possibilities. The rapid advance of high
technology is cause for constant amazement… and maybe some concern as
well.
Watch and learn
The Next Step in Transportation:
Let’s fly!!!
We are going to study one potentially tremendous change in public
transportation: autonomous flying taxis!
You are going to watch Rodin Lyasoff’s Ted Talk video presenting what he hopes will, in the near future, become a
new staple feature (something you immediately associate with) of modern transportation.
Let’s anticipate:
Flying taxis are not yet a common place feature in our lives. According to you, why don’t we have flying taxis yet?
What are the biggest challenges / obstacles to developing that technology?
 Speaking together with your classmate(s), answer the question above.
 Then write down your answer in full sentences of tremendous English, using the prompts below.
First, you have to consider…
The main challenge is probably to overcome (dépasser) …
In order to have autonomous flying vehicles, you would first need to make sure that…
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Credit: Boston dynamics

Now let’s watch the video
 Read the questions below before you watch the video.
 While you watch, practice taking notes.
 Watch the video then answer the questions. Write down full sentences of your own wording.
 When you are done share and compare with your neighbors.
1. 1’35 to 1’45 R. Lyasoff presents the problems with road traffic. What are they?
Lyasoff argues that… One of the disadvantages of road traffic is that…
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2. 1’50 to 2’10 Now Lyasoff highlights the advantages of the sky in comparison
In contrast, the sky offers… Using air-traffic would allow…
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3. 2’30 Lyasoff compliments “Lyft” for having more insight (inspiration) than Uber in choosing their name. Do you
understand why this is a bit of humor? What does “lyft” or lift mean?
The meaning of… implies…
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4. 2’58 to 3’10 Lyasoff lists the 3 main problems with traditional helicopters. What are they?
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5. 3’10 to 4’00 Now Lyasoff engages in an argument in favor of electric, autonomous vehicles. Try to sum up his
points.
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6. To give you some help with the term redundancy: when something is
redundant it is superfluous. In this case, what can be superfluous? And
how is that something positive for such an aircraft?
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7. 4’00 to 5’30 Lyasoff introduces the premises of his business model. With what arguments does he hope to
convince a) people to use his vehicles and possibly b) investors to join the venture
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Credit: vahana.aero

Now let’s talk
Let’s have us a roleplay shall we? Two students are going to
speak with two other students.
Let’s imagine you are two engineers representing A3, an Airbus
start-up venture. You are having a meeting with the European Air
Navigation Service Commission (EANSC). You have to convince
them that flying taxis are going to be a safe, efficient mode of
transportation in the near future and therefore that the European
Union needs to allow these vehicles to fly the European skies.
The two other students will play the role of representatives from the EANSC. To say the least, you are skeptical. Air
traffic is already getting denser and denser and you need to consider safety (individual and collective) before anything
else.
You are going to have a negotiation for 5 minutes, then you will switch roles and have another 5-minute conversation.
So take a couple minutes to prepare your arguments and let’s roll!
What we need to take into consideration is…
The matter at hand here is that…
We cannot allow…
Current regulations impose…
In order to issue a favorable opinion, we will need...
Risk/hazard Instrumental / mandatory / necessary crucial / pivotal / imperative
Prepare your notes
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