📙 Part 2: Describe an invention that has positively changed the world

This episode's vocabulary

Universally (adverb) - in a way that exists everywhere, or involves everyone.

To forced sb's hand (idiom) - to make someone do something they do not want to do, or act sooner than they had intended.

To interpret (verb) - to decide what the intended meaning of something is.

To immerse (verb) - to involve someone completely in an activity.

Off the grid (adj./adverb) - not connected to any of the main utilities (= electricity, water, etc.) and having your own power and water supply.

Dismal (adj.) - sad and without hope.

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Questions and Answers

M: Rory is going to say what it is, what benefits it has brought, how it influences people of different ages, and he's going to explain how he feels about it. Rory, are you all ready?

R: Yes.

M: Excellent. Bring it on. Come on.

R: I think it's difficult to talk about something that has changed the world in a universally positive manner since I suppose almost everything has its upsides and downsides. However, if you forced my hand on it, I would have to say the Internet has brought many more benefits than disadvantages. If we define it as, I don't know, the total combination of human knowledge, communications and information being shared around the planet, then you can see how it's helped people out quite easily. They can store and process and call up information with greater speed and accuracy than before, assuming no one knows how to, or sorry, assuming one knows how to access, filter and interpret it. And those are crucial skills given the amount of useless and dangerous information on there. If we talk about its effects on young people, they're able to share information faster than ever, which allows for immediate feedback. And as the network expands, greater possibilities to do so from a variety of locations come with it as well. In the case of Middle aged or older people, I suppose the positive and negative effects are weaker, since they haven't been immersed in it to quite the same extent. So they might be at something of a loss at times. As for my personal feelings, I'd say I have a pretty favorable view of it. A lot of my work requires it to function. And I get a lot of entertainment through it. Even the books I've ordered, those are physical things, but I ordered them online. And I needed to stay in touch with my friends and clients and colleagues and members of my family. Sometimes I wish I spent a little less time on it and more time outdoors disconnected and off-the-grid. But I'm sure there will be time for that. Oh, no, it's a handy thing. And I couldn't imagine life without it, to be honest. But if I really put my mind to it, I think it would be, well, at least the world would be a bit grayer and more dismal as a result, and I wouldn't be able to get on social media.

M: What about your friends? Do they agree with you?

R: Well, I would hope so given that we speak about using the Internet all the time.

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