THUONG MAI UNIVERSITY

DISCUSSION GROUP 7
SUBJECT ENGLISH 2

TOPIC: Balancing Technology and Human Life

Teaching faculty: Ths. Trieu Thi Trang

Class code: 2325ENTH1511

HÀ NỘI, 2023
 PRESENTATION ASSESSMENT

No. Name Comments Mark

+ About II.2. The negative impacts of

43 Nguyễn Đào Hiếu Phương
technology
+ About III.1. Discussion of strategies for
44 Triệu Anh Quân
limiting technology use

45 Phạm Thị Diễm Quỳnh + About I. Introduction

46 Nguyễn Thị Thanh + About IV. Conclusion

+ About II.1. The positive impacts of

47 Đào Phương Thảo technology
+ Synthesize and make a document in word
+ About III.2. Evaluation of the
48 Nguyễn Diệu Thảo
effectiveness of these strategies
+ About III.1. Discussion of strategies for
49 Nguyễn Đức Thái limiting technology use
+ Make a presentation in powerpoint
 MEETING MINUTE (01) – GROUP 07

Time: 21/02/2023 from 9.00 pm to 11.00 pm

Location: Google Meet
Members: 07/07

Contents for discussing:

1. Choose a secretary
2. Ideas related to “Technology and Human Life”
3. Assign tasks: Read and analyze the topic is content, the topic asks students what
to do, main content of the discussion, and how many diretions to exploit the topic
Conclusion:
1. Topic selection “Balancing Technology and Human Life”
2. Divide the task of finding topics and information
Duties for members:
1. Secretary: Thảo
2. Members give opinons on the topic and contribute to the topic
3. Members duties:
+ Content include: all members
+ Powpoint: Thái
+ Word: Thảo

Leader Srectary
Nguyễn Đức Thái Đào Phương Thảo
 MEETING MINUTE (02) – GROUP 07

Time: 01/03/2023 from 9.00 pm to 10.00 pm

Location: Google Meet
Members: 07/07

Contents for discussing:

1. Edit the content of each post
2. Choose a powerpoint background
3. Member Reminder
Conclusion:
1. Finish editing the content of each post
2. Choose a powerpoint background
3. Finished correcting some word errors
Duties for members:
1. The members complete the homework together
2. Each member is responsible for a presentation with a handwritten copy

Leader Srectary
Nguyễn Đức Thái Đào Phương Thảo
 MEETING MINUTE (03) – GROUP 07

Time: 09/03/2023 from 9.00 pm to 10.30 pm

Location: Google Meet
Members: 07/07

Contents for discussing:

1. Edit the content of each post
2. Member Reminder
Conclusion:
Reviewing presentations and commenting on members scores.
Duties for members:
1. The members complete the homework together
2. Each member is responsible for a presentation with a handwritten copy

Leader Srectary
Nguyễn Đức Thái Đào Phương Thảo
 OUTLING PRESENTATION

I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1
1. Introducing the group’s topic .......................................................................... 1
2. Outling the presentation.................................................................................. 1
II. BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF TECHNOLOGY ............................... 2
1. The positive impacts of technology ................................................................ 2
2. The negative impacts of technology ............................................................... 3
III. STRATEGIES FOR BALANCING TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN LIFE
............................................................................................................................... 5
1. Discussion of strategies for limiting technology use ....................................... 5
2. Evaluation of the effectiveness of these strategies .......................................... 6
2.1. Promote non-tech related hobbies ........................................................... 6
2.2. Create tech-free zones or times ................................................................ 7
2.3. Prioritize self-care and mindfulness ........................................................ 7
IV. CONCLUSION .............................................................................................. 9
1. Recap of the importance of balancing technology and human life .................. 9
2. Final thoughts and suggestions for creating a healthy relationship with
technology .......................................................................................................... 9
REFERENCES ................................................................................................... 10
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I. INTRODUCTION

1. Introducing the group’s topic

Over the past few years, technology has become an important part of our daily lives.
Technology is the term used to describe the application of scientific knowledge in practical
situations. It increases the utility of products and services and contributes to value creation,
so it helps make any work easier and helps people in multiple ways. But the issue as to
whether or not technology makes human life perfect has remained a source of controversy.
While I agree technology has many benefits such as relaxing, communicating or enhancing
Education and Learning, ect, I believe that the drawbacks should be carefully considered
as well. As technology advances, we become more dependent on it that has led to negative
consequences. Over-reliance on technology can result in decreased face-to-face
interactions and a lack of social skills that can lead to addiction and negative effects on
mental health. Because of that, our group chose to learn more deeply about the pros and
cons of technology.

2. Outling the presentation

Our presentation is divided into 3 parts. We will start with benefits and drawbacks
of Technology. Then in the second part is the discussion of strategies for limiting
technology use and finally we will go on to talk about the evaluation of the effectiveness
of these strategies.

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II. BENEFITS AND DRAWBACKS OF TECHNOLOGY

1. The positive impacts of technology

People and technology are increasingly intertwined and interdependent. There is an
opinion that: “People are changing technology every day, but technology is also changing
people’s lives”. Technology is a product of human thinking and creativity. It is people who
create technology and transform it. Today, the importance of technology has become more
relevant.

⮚ Effect of Technology on Education Sector

Online learning with help of technology. With so much information available on the
internet that too for free, it has become possible for people to afford to learn many things.
With Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning development, people will start to accept
these technologies. Above all, with people getting adapted to virtual learning, this sure is
a step in a new way of teaching.

⮚ Impact of Technology on Business

To begin with, in businesses like delivery services, online booking, transportation,
technology is far integrated into them. Besides, many businesses can cut a lot of costs while
continuing to work from home at the same rate. Cost reduction is a huge plus of technology
integration for businesses.

⮚ Importance of technology in health care

Additionally, technology has revolutionized healthcare, making it more efficient
and accessible. New treatments and diagnostic methods can now be offered to patients with
greater accuracy and cost effectiveness. Technology has also seen the introduction of new
medical devices that make diagnoses and treatments much easier and less invasive.

⮚ Impact of Technology on our health

Technology has greatly increased the efficiency of communication, allowing for
faster, easier and more reliable connections. People can access information from all over
the world quickly, and this has created many new opportunities for business, education and
entertainment.
It’s no secret that technology has helped us in unimaginable ways & is continuing
to do so with constant advancements for the betterment of Mankind.

In conclusion, technology has had a positive impact on our lives in many ways. It
has enabled us to communicate more efficiently, work smarter, stay safer, and enjoy more
entertainment opportunities. Technology has become an integral part of our lives and as
We continue to advance, it will continue to make our lives better and easier.

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2. The negative impacts of technology

⮚ Social skills

Excessive use of tech solutions is likely to result in poor social skills. People chat
in messenger rather than calling granny or meeting up with a friend in person. On the face
of it, technology appears to create a global network, bringing people together. But in fact,
this often replaces real-life communication and results in social isolation. As a result,
people can feel lonely and depressed. We can lose the ability to read social cues like tone
of voice, facial expression, body language, and direct wording. On top of all that, violent
games and videos can kill empathy and bring destruction into an individual’s life.

⮚ Education

The Internet has become a great tool for learning. Yet, the involvement of tech
doesn’t guarantee the quality of the education. Children sometimes overuse technology in
the classroom which affects the learning process in a negative way. Plagiarism and cheating
have increased while analysis and critical thinking skills appear to be in decline. This is
putting the thinking abilities of younger generations in jeopardy. Various studies claim that
the more students use entertainment technologies like games or social media, the less they
perform academically. The reason for this is the distraction caused by games, messages,
and videos. Young people have a hard time focusing their attention during lessons and
resisting impulsive behavior.

⮚ Physical effects

Among the most dangerous effects of technology is obesity. Obviously this isn’t a
direct effect, yet when your attention is absorbed by a laptop or a tablet, people are often
inclined to snack a lot, keep late hours and exercise less. The more time you sit in front of
a PC, the more likely you are to suffer from bad blood circulation in your body, not to
mention neck and head pain. Moreover, a sedentary lifestyle is the reason why many people
have a curved backbone and bad posture. Constant staring at the screen might be the reason
for headaches and poor eyesight. Regularly listening to loud music in headphones is likely
to cause hearing loss and ringing in the ears.

⮚ Privacy and security

When misused, technology can expose you to a number of risks. People are
especially vulnerable. Sexting is another risky behavior teens might be exposed to. With
the huge number of people using the Internet, it’s no surprise that cybercrime is also

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abundant. Today it’s easier than ever before to find someone’s personal information. The
borders of privacy have been blurred significantly via the use of social media, tracking
cookies and opaque privacy policies. Information obtained in this way can be used by
hackers for a wide range of schemes and scams, leaving internet users vulnerable to
phishing, hacking, and virus attacks.

⮚ Mental health

The sleep chemical melatonin is influenced by the constant glow from screens. So
constant technology use is likely to interfere with your sleep, especially if you’re viewing
screens immediately before bed. Even more serious is when people become addicted to
technology. Addictive behaviors can easily end up destroying social and family bonds.

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III. STRATEGIES FOR BALANCING TECHNOLOGY AND HUMAN

LIFE

1. Discussion of strategies for limiting technology use

While technology has brought many conveniences, it can also lead to negative
effects on our physical and mental health. In this article, we will discuss some strategies to
limit technology use. By following these strategies, we can maintain a healthy relationship
with technology and improve our overall well-being. Let's dive in and explore these
strategies in more detail.

To begin with using technology as a tool to enhance offline experiences, rather than
relying on it as the primary source of entertainment or social interaction.Today’s
technology develops, we can learn anything on technology platform. Instead of spending
hours to surf the news, entertain, we can spend that time to study and improve our skill
such as learning foreign language…

Additionally, setting boundaries and goals for technology use, such as limiting
screen time or spending a certain amount of time outside each day. Using technology
products for a long time can effect health. Therefore, it is necessary to set ussage limits,
and always spend time outdoors.

Moreover, focusing on using technology with intention and quality over quantity, to avoid
mindless scrolling and excessive usagee. You should determine the purpose of using
technology before using it, to avoid letting yourself abuse technology negative. By doing
this, we can give our minds and bodies a chance to rest, and connect with others in more
meaningful ways.

Considering fostering hobbies and interests that don't involve technology is one of
the easiest ways we can limit our use of technology. It's all too easy to spend our free time
scrolling through social media or binge-watching our favourite shows, but this can leave
us feeling unfulfilled and disconnected. By taking up hobbies like hiking or painting, we
can cultivate new skills and find satisfaction in activities that don't rely on screens or
devices.

If we feel that it is not enough, we should also consider creating tech-free zones or
scheduling tech-free times. This means setting aside certain rooms or times of the day as
tech-free, and committing to taking a break from technology during meals or before

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bedtimth the increasing reliance on technology in our daily lives, it's more important than
ever to find a healthy balance between technology use and offline experiences.

Finally, let prioritize self-care and mindfulness. Taking breaks to stretch and move
throughout the day, practicing meditation or mindfulness exercises, or making time for
self-care activities like reading or taking a bath can all help us maintain a healthy balance
between technology and human life. By putting our mental and physical health first, we
can ensure that we're able to enjoy the benefits of technology without being consumed by
it.

Finding a balance between technology and human life is essential for our well-
being. By fostering new interests, creating tech-free zones, and prioritizing self-care, we
can enjoy the benefits of technology without becoming addicted to it.

2. Evaluation of the effectiveness of these strategies

2.1. Promote non-tech related hobbies

⮚ Advantage

Pursuing a hobby will bring you a sense of happiness, excitement, and passion.
Because when you do things that you enjoy, you don't spend as much time on electronic
devices.

In life, there are many pressures in life that make you feel stressed and tired due to
work. In addition, you may feel stress due to long exposure to electronic devices due to the
nature of work or study, pursuing a hobby will relieve that stress and pressure.

In addition to the above, pursuing a hobby can motivate you when you are having a
hard time. It can motivate you to step away from electronics and pursue your hobbies.

⮚ Disadvantage

Finding a hobby of your own is not easy. And it is not easy to make time for hobbies
due to work or study. Finally, it is very difficult to maintain a hobby for a long time.

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2.2. Create tech-free zones or times

⮚ Advantage

Building a technology-free space will help you rest comfortably without being
affected by technology devices. Or you can set aside that space for yourself to avoid
overexposure to technology devices. That can help your health.

And not using technology devices for a certain period of time by allocating time to
use technology devices appropriately will help you have higher work efficiency, work
balance and rest, avoid distraction from technology devices too much.

In addition, not using technology devices for a certain period of time can build
yourself a good habit in life. For example, do not use technology when eating to avoid
stomach pain or when going to sleep to avoid eye pain.

⮚ Disadvantage

It is difficult to create space without technological equipment. And it's not easy to
balance work and rest time. Finally, building the good habit of not using technology takes
a long time.

2.3. Prioritize self-care and mindfulness

⮚ Advantage

Taking care of yourself can help reduce your risk of illness. improve your mental
health. This also contributes to reducing the use of technology in your life.

Taking care of yourself boosts your health and helps you understand your body
better, as well as allowing you to spend more time with yourself than with technology. It
can help you get rid of tech gadgets and improve your health for the better.

Finally, not using technology will help you to enjoy more life values. For example,
you can relax while reading a book, being with nature, or taking care of plants.

⮚ Disadvantage

The drawback of prioritizing self-care and mindfulness is that you don't know how
to take care of yourself properly. And you don't have much time to take care of yourself.
Or it's hard to enjoy the value of life when you're so busy.

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Above are my assessments of strategies to reduce the use of technology devices in

life. In addition, you can find more ways to reduce yourself from using too many
technology devices and help you enjoy life.

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IV. CONCLUSION

1. Recap of the importance of balancing technology and human life

We known, Technology has become a crucial part of our society. Without
technological advancements, so much of our everyday lives would be drastically different.
As technology develops, it strives to fulfill the changing needs of society. Technology
progresses as society evolves. Changing technologies benefit consumers in countless
aspects of their lives including in the workforce, in communications, in the use of natural
resources, and so much more.

If our technology were to go away, our lives would be really tough for a while until
everyone learned to live without it. We are too dependent on it. My solution is that we
begin that transition sooner rather than later. For example, if you have basic map-reading
skills, you can look at a road map and get to your destination.

2. Final thoughts and suggestions for creating a healthy relationship with technology
We need a balance between technology and our lives. In entertainment, using
technology in moderation will help you feel close, honest and rewarding joys. At work,
exploiting advanced technology makes the work gradually simpler and lighter. Technology
always has two sides like that, it is important that you know balance and self-control.

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REFERENCES

ERICKSON, D. (2023, February 13). Hip Diggs. Retrieved March 02, 2023, from 7
Strategies To Limit Your Use Of Technology: https://www.hipdiggs.com

Kamble, V. (2021, June 18). VERZEO. Retrieved March 02, 2023, from Positive And
Negative Effects Of Technology: https://blog.verzeo.com

Nayak, A. (2020, April 15). Clever. Retrieved March 02, 2023, from 6 Strategies to Reduce
Your Screen Time During Social Distancing: https://www.architecturaldigest.com

team, K. (2018, May 08). KIDSLOX. Retrieved March 02, 2023, from Top 5 negative
effects of technology you don’t even suspect: https://kidslox.com

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