Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

la technologie

Technology; a set of tools and systems that change how people communicate, learn, work, and live (not just devices).

la science

Science; research and understanding of the world (distinct from technology, which is application).

une innovation

An innovation; a new or improved idea, method, or product that can create both benefits and new problems.

une avancée (scientifique/technologique)

An advancement; progress in science/tech that can transform society (health, school, work, environment).

un compromis

A trade-off; the idea that an innovation often solves one problem while creating others.

l’hyperconnexion

Hyperconnection; being constantly connected (often due to messaging/notifications), which can hurt focus or well-being.

la fracture numérique

Digital divide; unequal access to internet/devices that can increase educational and social inequalities.

la collecte de données

Data collection; gathering user information to personalize services and often sell targeted ads.

la confidentialité

Confidentiality; privacy of personal information (often discussed with data and online settings).

la vie privée

Privacy; what should remain under an individual’s control (personal info, conversations, location, habits).

les données personnelles

Personal data; information about a person that apps/platforms can record, analyze, and sometimes resell.

l’identité numérique

Digital identity; the set of online traces (posts, likes, comments, photos, browsing habits) shaping reputation and content shown.

inférer (des informations)

To infer; to deduce information (interests, approximate location, social network) from someone’s online traces.

le cyberharcèlement

Cyberbullying; repeated harassment enabled by technology (messages, rumors, public humiliation), amplified by speed and anonymity.

la modération (des contenus)

Content moderation; actions by platforms to manage/remove reported harmful content to reduce abuse like cyberbullying.

le signalement

Reporting; notifying a platform/school about harmful content or behavior so it can be reviewed and addressed.

le RGPD

GDPR (EU); a European data-protection regulation showing that privacy is treated as a political/legal right.

la CNIL

French data-protection authority; an institution that regulates computing and civil liberties to protect data rights.

le Minitel

A French pre-Internet online service widely used starting in the 1980s and discontinued in 2012; an example of early mass digital services.

la télémédecine

Telemedicine; medical consultations at a distance (video/platforms) that can improve access, especially in rural areas, but requires internet/equipment.

la santé connectée

Connected health; healthcare supported by connected devices and apps that track health indicators and enable monitoring.

un objet connecté

A connected device (wearable/IoT); collects data like activity, sleep, or heart rate—useful for prevention but raises privacy concerns.

les données de santé

Health data; sensitive information from medical services/devices that raises questions about who can access it and for what purpose.

la prévention

Prevention; actions aimed at avoiding health problems (e.g., using trackers to encourage activity), sometimes with risks like anxiety or obsession.

la bioéthique

Bioethics; moral limits and societal choices around medicine/biology (genetics, assisted reproduction, end of life).

un dilemme

A dilemma; a situation with competing values/interests where there is no simple solution (common in bioethics debates).

encadrer (une pratique)

To regulate/supervise; to set rules so a practice is allowed but controlled to prevent abuses and protect equity.

l’automatisation

Automation; assigning repetitive/calculable tasks to machines—often replacing tasks rather than entire jobs.

une tâche répétitive

A repetitive task; routine work that is especially likely to be automated.

l’intelligence artificielle (IA)

Artificial intelligence; systems that find patterns in data and produce outputs (recommendations, decisions, content), with risks like bias and unclear responsibility.

un biais (algorithmique)

Bias; unfair distortion in outcomes (e.g., hiring/credit decisions) often caused by data or human choices behind an AI system.

la recommandation (algorithmique)

Recommendation; AI-driven suggestions (videos/music/news) that can strongly influence user choices and attention.

la souveraineté numérique

Digital sovereignty; the ability of a society/state to control key digital tools, data, and infrastructure rather than depending entirely on foreign actors.

une start-up

A startup; a young company built around innovation, often discussed with tech ecosystems in Paris, Montréal, or Dakar.

une institution de recherche

Research institution; an organization (often linked to universities) producing scientific knowledge and supporting innovation.

le développement durable

Sustainable development; meeting current needs while protecting the environment and resources for the future.

la transition énergétique

Energy transition; shifting from highly polluting energy sources to less polluting ones, with technological and resource limits.

l’impact environnemental

Environmental impact; how an activity/technology affects the environment (energy use, resource extraction, waste).

les déchets électroniques

Electronic waste; discarded devices/components, a key environmental cost of technology.

l’effet rebond

Rebound effect; when improved efficiency lowers cost/effort and leads to higher overall usage, reducing or reversing environmental gains.

une ville intelligente

Smart city; uses sensors/data to optimize services (traffic, lighting), but raises governance and privacy questions.

les transports en commun

Public transportation; collective transit (metro, tram) often presented as an alternative to individual cars to reduce urban pollution.

le TGV

French high-speed train; a cultural example of transport infrastructure tied to technology and collective environmental choices.

la littératie numérique

Digital literacy; the ability to interpret digital/scientific information, evaluate sources, and think critically.

l’esprit critique

Critical thinking; identifying main ideas, viewpoint, limits, and linking sources instead of simply summarizing them.

une source fiable

A reliable source; information that can be trusted based on author, purpose, evidence, date, and a non-sensational tone.

décrire un graphique

To describe a graph; first state neutral trends/comparisons (increase/decrease) before interpreting what it might suggest.

interpréter (avec prudence)

To interpret cautiously; propose possible causes/consequences without presenting guesses as certain facts.

une concession

A concession; acknowledging limits or counterarguments (e.g., “although… however…”) to sound nuanced and credible.

produits, pratiques, perspectives

AP cultural framework: products (objects/institutions), practices (habits/behaviors), perspectives (values behind them).

le système métrique

Metric system; a solid, widely accepted example of a French contribution to science/technology.