Technology & Inventions
B2 Business English · Innovation & Technology
01 · Warm-Up
Getting Started
What do you think is the most important invention of the last 100 years?
How has technology changed your job in the last five years?
What technology do you use most in your daily work?
What do you think will be the next major technological breakthrough?
How has artificial intelligence affected your industry?
What are the risks of becoming too dependent on technology?
02 · Vocabulary
Key Vocabulary
| WORD | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| invention | The transistor was one of the most important inventions of the 20th century. |
| innovation | Continuous innovation is key to staying competitive. |
| breakthrough | The discovery of penicillin was a medical breakthrough. |
| patent | They filed a patent for their new design. |
| semiconductor | Silicon is the most widely used semiconductor material. |
| transistor | The transistor replaced the vacuum tube in electronic devices. |
| circuit | The circuit board contains thousands of components. |
| amplify | A transistor can amplify electrical signals. |
| conduct | Copper conducts electricity very efficiently. |
| obsolete | Fax machines have become largely obsolete. |
| disruptive technology | Smartphones were a disruptive technology that changed communication. |
| prototype | The engineers built a prototype to test the concept. |
| miniaturise | Advances in technology have allowed us to miniaturise devices. |
| integrate | AI is being integrated into many industrial processes. |
| automate | Many repetitive tasks have been automated. |
03 · Reading
The Transistor: The Invention That Changed the World
The transistor is widely regarded as one of the most important inventions in human history. Developed in 1947 by a team of scientists at Bell Laboratories in the United States, the transistor is a tiny semiconductor device that can amplify or switch electrical signals. Before its invention, electronic devices relied on large, fragile, and energy-hungry vacuum tubes.
The transistor changed everything. It was smaller, more reliable, and used far less power than the vacuum tube. Within a decade, transistors were being used in radios, televisions, and computers. The invention sparked a technological revolution that eventually led to the development of integrated circuits, microprocessors, and the modern computer.
04 · Comprehension
Comprehension Questions
0X · Discussion
Discussion Questions
Do you agree that the transistor is the most important invention of the 20th century? What would you choose instead?
How has technology changed your industry in the last 20 years?
What are the risks of relying too heavily on technology in manufacturing?
How do you think artificial intelligence will change your job in the next 10 years?
What is the most impressive piece of technology you use in your work?
What is the difference between an invention and an innovation?
Can you think of a technology that was once revolutionary but is now obsolete?
What ethical issues are raised by automation and AI in the workplace?