Unit 4 Study Notes: Science, Technology, and Society (AP German Language and Culture)

Technology in daily life

All digital and technical tools that shape everyday routines (e.g., smartphones, navigation apps, streaming, online banking, smart home devices) and their effects on communication, work, learning, health, and relationships.

Digital communication

Communication via digital tools (messengers, social media, video calls) that is fast and location-independent but can reduce nonverbal cues and increase misunderstandings.

Constant reachability

The condition of being able to be contacted at any time, which can create convenience but also stress and pressure to respond.

Screen time

The amount of time someone spends using a screen, often linked to attention, well-being, and daily habits.

Distraction

Loss of concentration caused by interruptions or attention-grabbing designs (e.g., notifications and endless feeds).

Social network (platform)

An online platform used to connect with others and share content; it can foster community but also intensify comparison and constant engagement.

Information literacy

The ability to evaluate information critically—checking sources, recognizing manipulation, and placing information in context.

Source evaluation

Assessing reliability by examining the author/institution, date, target audience, evidence provided, and whether reputable sources confirm the claim.

Digitalization of work

Shifting work processes and communication to digital systems (cloud documents, project tools, video meetings), which can raise efficiency but blur work–life boundaries.

Work–life balance

A healthy balance between work responsibilities and private life, often challenged by always-on digital work culture.

Telework / Working from home (home office)

Doing paid work remotely, typically from home, which can reduce commuting and increase flexibility but may increase isolation and availability pressure.

Automation

Using machines or software to perform tasks previously done by humans, affecting productivity and the job market.

Personalized advertising

Targeted marketing based on collected user data; it can be convenient but raises concerns about data collection and profiling.

Smart living (smart home)

Everyday living supported by connected devices (e.g., smart thermostats, voice assistants) that improve convenience but create new security and privacy questions.

Data privacy

Protection of personal data from misuse; central to debates because data can bring benefits (comfort, research) but also risks (profiling, discrimination).

Surveillance

Monitoring people (e.g., via cameras or tracking), which may improve security but can make people feel constantly watched and change behavior.

Consent (in data use)

A person’s agreement to the collection or use of their data; ethically important for fairness and individual control.

Data security

Measures that protect stored and transmitted data from unauthorized access, leaks, or misuse.

Digital inequality (digital divide)

Unequal access to devices, internet, or digital skills, which can disadvantage people when services like school, healthcare, or government go digital.

Discovery

Finding or recognizing something that already exists (often through research), such as a scientific phenomenon.

Invention

Creating something new (a device, method, or process) developed by people rather than merely found.

Innovation process

A typical pathway from identifying a need/problem to research and development, then market introduction, followed by social responses like regulation and new habits.

Telemedicine

Healthcare delivered remotely (e.g., video consultations) that can save time and improve access, while raising questions about reliability and data protection.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Computer systems that perform tasks requiring human-like abilities (pattern recognition, language processing), widely used in recommendations and recognition tools.

Algorithmic bias

Unfair or skewed outcomes when AI systems trained on one-sided or biased data reproduce or amplify existing inequalities; highlights the need for transparency and human oversight.