Unit 4: How Science and Technology Affect Our Lives

Science

A way of producing knowledge about the world through observation, evidence, and explanation.

Technology

The practical application of knowledge (and other ideas) to create tools, processes, and systems that solve problems.

Cause-and-effect relationships

Explanations that connect why something happens (cause) with what results from it (effect), a key skill for analyzing technology’s impact.

Digital divide (brecha digital)

Inequality in access to internet, devices, and digital skills, which can widen social and economic gaps.

Access (to technology)

Who can use a technology and who cannot; differences in access often determine who benefits from innovations.

Automation

Using technology to perform tasks with less human labor, often increasing efficiency but potentially displacing or transforming jobs.

Surveillance

The monitoring of people’s behavior or data (e.g., through cameras, sensors, or online tracking), which can raise privacy and civil-liberty concerns.

Shift in norms and values

Changes in what society considers “normal” due to technology (e.g., replying immediately, sharing location, teleworking).

Cause connectors (Spanish)

Phrases used to express cause in academic Spanish (e.g., debido a, a causa de, ya que, puesto que).

Consequence connectors (Spanish)

Phrases used to express results or consequences (e.g., por lo tanto, en consecuencia, de modo que, lo cual).

Nuance/hedging language (matiz)

Expressions that avoid absolute statements and show complexity (e.g., en gran medida, hasta cierto punto, no obstante, sin embargo).

Internet penetration

The proportion of a population with internet access; used to compare access levels across countries or regions.

Censorship and monitoring (Cuba)

Restrictions and oversight of online content, including blocking sites or platforms critical of the government.

Public Wi‑Fi hotspots

Shared internet access points (often in public spaces) that many people rely on when home internet is limited or expensive.

Mobile internet (Cuba, 2018)

A service introduced to expand connectivity via phones, though access may remain limited by cost.

ARPANET

A U.S. government-funded network project from the 1960s that helped lay the groundwork for today’s internet.

The World (1989)

An early commercial internet service provider mentioned as launching in 1989.

Internet Service Provider (ISP)

A company that provides internet access (e.g., Comcast, AT&T, Verizon are examples given for the U.S.).

Streaming

Watching or listening to content online in real time (video or music), a common internet activity.

Public transportation

Shared travel systems (buses, trains, metros) that can reduce congestion and air pollution compared to widespread car use.

Viazul

A Cuban state bus company commonly used for intercity routes and tourist destinations, often with amenities like air conditioning.

Colectivo taxi (taxi colectivo)

A shared taxi in Cuba with fixed routes, usually cheaper than a private taxi.

Classic cars in Cuba

Older cars (often from the 1950s or earlier) still widely used due to decades of import restrictions and high costs of newer vehicles.

Emissions controls

Modern systems that reduce vehicle pollution; their absence in older engines can contribute to higher contamination.

Electric and hybrid cars

Vehicles that use electricity (fully or partially) and are increasingly demanded for environmental reasons.

Innovation

The process of creating or improving solutions; can be incremental (small improvements) or disruptive (sector-changing).

Disruptive innovation

Innovation that transforms an industry or sector completely rather than making minor improvements.

Research (investigación)

Academic, medical, or industrial study that generates evidence and supports innovation, requiring funding, regulation, and public trust.

Peer review

A scientific evaluation process where experts assess research quality, often alongside replication and discussion.

Regulation and follow-up

Rules, permits, and ongoing monitoring used to oversee technologies or medical interventions and track side effects or harms.

Ethics

The evaluation of consequences, rights, and responsibilities to decide whether a technology should be used, not just whether it can be used.

Informed consent (consentimiento informado)

Agreeing to a medical or data-related intervention with an understanding of risks and implications.

Equity (equidad)

The principle that benefits should not concentrate only among already-privileged groups; fairness in distribution matters.

Transparency (transparencia)

The expectation that governments or companies explain how they use data and how decisions are made.

Responsibility/accountability (responsabilidad)

Clarifying who is answerable if a technology causes harm and what mechanisms exist to respond.

Trade-offs

Compensations where gaining one benefit (e.g., security) may require accepting costs (e.g., reduced privacy).

Smart surveillance (vigilancia inteligente)

Using “intelligent” sensors and cameras to prevent or respond to crime, raising questions about data storage, oversight, and errors.

Clinical trials (ensayos clínicos)

Structured studies that test safety and effectiveness of treatments or vaccines before broad use.

Emergency use authorization

A special approval pathway that allows a medical product to be used in urgent situations before full standard approval.

Telemedicine (telemedicina)

Medical consultations delivered remotely via video or digital platforms, improving access for rural areas but requiring reliable internet.

Digital health data

Sensitive information collected by health apps or devices (sleep, heart rate, mood) that can help care but raises privacy concerns.

Biotechnology (biotecnología)

Using biological processes to create products or solutions in areas like medicine, agriculture, and diagnostics.

Genetic testing (pruebas genéticas)

Tests that identify health risks but can create anxiety or lead to discrimination if misused.

Recommendation algorithms

Systems used by platforms to decide what content users see, based on interactions and engagement patterns.

Attention economy (economía de la atención)

A business model where user time and engagement are valuable, pushing platforms to optimize for viral or highly attractive content.

Echo chambers (ecosistemas cerrados)

Online environments where users mainly see similar viewpoints because algorithms reinforce previously engaged content.

Digital identity (identidad digital)

The image of a person formed by what they post, what others post about them, and data collected from their activity.

Digital footprint (huella digital)

The lasting traces of online activity (photos, comments, locations, searches) that may persist even after deletion attempts.

Misinformation / fake news (desinformación)

False or misleading information that spreads online, complicating public understanding and worsening social problems.

Phishing (suplantación)

Fraudulent messages that imitate trustworthy institutions to steal passwords or personal information, often using urgency or fear.