Unità 4 (AP Italian): Scienza, tecnologia e società — capire l’impatto sulla vita e sulla cultura

Visible technology

Devices people can directly see and use (e.g., smartphones, computers, smartwatches).

Invisible technology

Behind-the-scenes systems that shape daily life (e.g., internet/5G networks, algorithms, digital payment systems, school platforms).

Digital infrastructure

The networks and systems that make digital services possible and organize how people communicate, work, and access services.

Digital register (formal vs informal)

The level of formality used in communication (e.g., texting a friend vs emailing a professor) that signals the relationship and social context.

Digital etiquette

Norms for respectful and effective online interaction (e.g., turn-taking in video calls, appropriate tone in emails).

Digital divide (digital exclusion)

Inequality in access to devices, stable internet, or digital skills that can limit participation in school, work, and essential services.

Always-on availability

The social expectation of rapid replies due to constant notifications, which can blur boundaries between private time and work/school time.

Cause–effect connectors

Linking words that make arguments logical (e.g., ‘due to,’ ‘therefore,’ ‘consequently’) instead of repeating only ‘because’ and ‘but.’

Concession structures

Language used to balance viewpoints (e.g., ‘although,’ ‘it’s true that… however…’) to avoid absolute statements.

Algorithmic filtering

When platforms show you more of what you already engage with to increase time spent and interaction, shaping what you see.

Information bubble (polarization)

A situation where people repeatedly encounter similar viewpoints, increasing division and making shared reality harder to maintain.

Disinformation

False or manipulated information spread as if it were true, often amplified by social platforms.

Source verification

Checking where a claim comes from (credible outlet, evidence) before believing or sharing it—especially important in interpersonal AP scenarios.

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)

European regulation that treats personal data protection and privacy as major rights and sets rules for how data can be collected and used.

Privacy (data control)

The ability to control personal information (identity, location, habits, health data) and prevent misuse or unwanted surveillance.

Profiling

Using personal data to classify people and predict behavior (often for advertising or influence), raising ethical concerns.

“Nothing to hide” fallacy

The mistaken idea that privacy only matters if you are doing something wrong; privacy is about control and preventing abuse.

Discovery

Finding or understanding something that already exists in nature but was previously unknown or not understood.

Invention

A human-created object or process; often made possible by scientific discoveries and can also enable new discoveries.

Innovation diffusion process

The typical path from idea to societal use: research → prototype → testing → production/distribution → social adoption.

Context-dependent impact of technology

The idea that effects are not automatic or equal for everyone; they vary by age, income, education, geography (urban/rural), and digital skills.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

Techniques that enable computers to perform tasks like recognizing images, translating, predicting outcomes, or generating content—often by learning from large datasets.

Algorithmic bias

Unfair outcomes produced when AI systems learn from biased or unrepresentative data, potentially disadvantaging certain groups.

Transparency and human oversight

Ethical requirements that decision systems be understandable and monitored by people so accountability remains clear.

Precautionary principle

The approach that if an innovation may cause serious harm and scientific certainty is incomplete, preventive measures and regulation are justified.