AP French Unit 4 Notes: Science, Technologie et Société

Technology (in daily life)

The set of tools, systems, and techniques—often digital—that help people do tasks more easily (communicate, travel, learn, work, get healthcare).

Intermediary (technology as an)

The idea that technology acts as a “middle layer” between you and the world (e.g., accessing information through search engines/apps instead of directly).

Permanent urgency

A feeling that everything must be handled immediately, often increased by rapid digital communication and constant updates.

Multitasking (digital)

Doing several tasks at once due to technology (e.g., switching between apps/notifications), often reducing concentration.

Algorithm

A set of instructions that sorts, ranks, and recommends content; it shapes what you see (e.g., in a news feed) and is not neutral.

Connectivity

Being connected via networks (Wi‑Fi, 4G/5G, fiber), enabling instant communication and practices like remote work and video calls.

Digital data

Traces left by online actions (searches, location, purchases) that can improve services but raise privacy concerns.

Privacy

The right to control personal information and intimacy; challenged by often invisible data collection in digital life.

Consent (online)

Permission to collect/use data; questioned when users click “accept” without understanding what they agree to.

Cause-and-effect reasoning

Explaining mechanisms by linking cause → consequence (e.g., notifications interrupt work, which reduces productivity).

Nuanced argument

An argument that acknowledges both benefits and drawbacks (using contrasts rather than saying something is simply good/bad).

Domotics (smart home)

Home automation technologies (smart thermostat, lighting, voice assistants) using sensors and systems to trigger actions automatically.

Hacking vulnerability

The risk that internet-connected devices/services can be attacked, exposing systems or personal data.

Mobility apps

Apps that provide real-time transport info and options (bike share, carpooling), making travel more flexible but potentially excluding non-users.

Digital divide

Inequality in access to devices, internet, or digital skills (often linked to age, income, disability, or rural vs. urban location).

GDPR (RGPD)

A European data-protection framework emphasizing consent and transparency in the use of personal data.

Discovery

New knowledge about the world (often scientific); finding something that already exists in nature.

Invention

A human-made creation (object, process, or technology) that applies knowledge to meet a need.

Innovation → diffusion → social transformation

A cycle where a technology moves from prototype/testing (innovation), to broader adoption (diffusion), to changing habits and society (transformation).

Prototype

An early model built and tested before full commercialization or large-scale adoption.

Research and development (R&D)

Work aimed at producing new knowledge and innovations; essential for creating and improving technologies.

Patent

Legal protection for an invention; gives an inventor/company exclusive rights for a period of time.

Telemedicine

Medical consultations at a distance using digital platforms; improves access but can limit physical exams and raise confidentiality issues.

Connected objects (wearables/sensors)

Devices that collect health or lifestyle data (heart rate, sleep) for monitoring and prevention, but may increase anxiety or share data with third parties.

AI bias

Unfair or inaccurate outcomes from AI when training data is imbalanced or reflects existing inequalities; can reproduce discrimination.