Tracking Data-Conversation

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Tracking data and using it to influence lifestyle changes impacts our health. However, not everyone agrees that harnessing data that tracks our movement is beneficial to society.

In the last decade, companies such as Apple and Samsung have made significant technological advancements with tracking data in the mobile phone sector. In addition, complementary products such as smartwatches have changed the gadget landscape.

Data tracking

Tracking data and using it to influence lifestyle changes impacts our health. However, not everyone agrees that harnessing data that tracks our movement is beneficial to society. Some believe this infringes our human rights and may lead to governmental control.

A division in society widens as our data is currently processed by third-party organisations such as insurers, medical providers and advertising agencies. Our data is sold for profit and used by other companies to target adverts.

In this conversation class, we will look at this topic in more depth and help you identify how we provide an opinion in English as a second language.

Firstly, you should consider that there are many forms to express how you provide an opinion. No one form is better, just different. To improve conversational skills, you will need to interact and ask questions. Therefore, you should practice this skill.

Devices

You most probably own one. But, do you use location services? Why?
Do you own a smartwatch? Why?
Has society moved beyond the point where we can prevent data from selling to third-party companies?
Smart rings are the latest technology to emerge from the smart device sector. Would you buy one? Why?
Can we improve society by using data? Why?

Advertisers

Some people believe that advertisers are a necessary evil. This is because they can use data to target what we want to buy. Have you ever bought something because it was recommended online?

Questions

Imagine if you with your friends talking about this topic. It would sound strange if you didn’t ask questions to participate. It is the same in English. So, this is your opportunity to ask questions to your language instructor. Try your best not to ask closed questions where the answer consists of a yes or a no.

As you would expect in every country, the topics of conversation revolve around general knowledge so, consider reading some online news portals that will help you identify with technology, science, education, health and current news.