10 inventions to make your life easier

(video by Top Trending)

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO_YvEwtWXU
Level: Medium to High
Language: Future forms, Technology, Negotiation, Science

Which gadgets and devices will become popular in the future? Watch this video
which describes ten recent inventions. Then decide which invention(s) you would
invest your money in.

Task 1: Watch the video. When you have finished watching, discuss what you can
remember about each invention.

1. Garage lights 6. Internal fridge magnets

2. Anti-drip mug 7. Jibo the robot

3. Coffee-mug phone charger 8. Foot handle

4. Solar-powered phone charger 9. Smart eyeglasses

5. USB batteries 10. Purifying straw

(see overleaf for Task 2)

Task 3: Discuss the task with your classmate.

You have €100,000 which you are going to invest in one of the above products. To help you select the
product for investment, discuss the items below for each of the ten inventions.

● the likelihood that the product will catch on

● whether its success would be short-term or long-term
● cost of manufacturing versus potential shelf-price
● ethical benefits
● alternative inventions (or other factors) which could threaten its success

You have 8 minutes to talk and select your product.

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Task 2: Watch the video again and complete the gaps using one to four words.

1. Can't find a parking spot in a cluttered parking garage? Well, this new invention would make that a
________________________________ . Just simply look for an open spot by searching for a green light.
Red lights indicate that a parking spot is currently in use while the green light indicates that that spot is
empty. The amount of headaches this would save would be astonishing.

2. At first glance you wouldn't expect this to be anything other than a regular coffee mug but it's actually
specifically designed to catch drips of your beverage so it doesn't smear,
____________________________ the surface it's on. You don't normally think of a dripping issue before
it happens but when it does, it's one you wish didn’t.

3. Having a dead phone is the worst but why not use your drink to power it? This portable charger
design is unlike any other. Its design powers your phone by taking the heat or the cold from your drink.

4. Don't have a drink to power your phone? _______________ this solar-powered phone charger to any
window on a sunny day.

5. As you know, you can run through batteries pretty easy, not to mention they aren't that cheap. These
cool, new rechargeable batteries are able to be opened and charged in any computer USB port. Just pop
open the cap and _____________________ . This invention saves a lot more time and money than you
think.

6. Why not take advantage of the extra headroom in your fridge? This invention mounts powerful
magnets to the top of your fridge, allowing things with metal lids to stick and stay up there with ease.
With the extra space, you'll have _________________________ to store more items with ease.

7. This cute little robot would love to be a new addition to your family. Jibo can talk to you when you're
bored, take photos without someone ________________________ , educate young ones, order you
food, text your friends and so much more.

8. We've all been here: opening a public bathroom door with your hands can be gross. In fact, research
shows that door handles have been found to carry more _________________________ than anything
else in the public restroom. This is just another reason why this invention is perfect. The foot handle can
be mounted to any door and easily opened with any foot.

9. These smart eyeglasses are much more than you think. They can monitor your concentration,
tiredness and sleepiness levels and display that information to you through your phone. Why not? These
__________________ debuted in 2015 with a starting price of six hundred and ninety dollars.

10. This invention would be perfect for those in need. You can _____________ this straw in a river, lake,
or pond and it will instantly purify and filter the water as you suck it through the straw. Just imagine how
many lives can be saved because of this invention.

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ANSWERS:

Task 1
(see script in Task 2)

Task 2 - full script

1. Can't find a parking spot in a cluttered parking garage? Well, this new invention would make that a whole lot easier. Just simply
look for an open spot by searching for a green light. Red lights indicate that a parking spot is currently in use while the green light
indicates that that spot is empty. The amount of headaches this would save would be astonishing.
2. At first glance you wouldn't expect this to be anything other than a regular coffee mug but it's actually specifically designed to
catch drips of your beverage so it doesn't smear, stain, or ruin the surface it's on. You don't normally think of a dripping issue
before it happens but when it does, it's one you wish didn’t.
3. Having a dead phone is the worst but why not use your drink to power it? This portable charger design is unlike any other. Its
design powers your phone by taking the heat or the cold from your drink.
4. Don't have a drink to power your phone? Stick this solar-powered phone charger to any window on a sunny day.
5. As you know, you can run through batteries pretty easy, not to mention they aren't that cheap. These cool, new rechargeable
batteries are able to be opened and charged in any computer USB port. Just pop open the cap and plug it in. This invention saves
a lot more time and money than you think.
6. Why not take advantage of the extra headroom in your fridge? This invention mounts powerful magnets to the top of your fridge,
allowing things with metal lids to stick and stay up there with ease. With the extra space, you'll have far more room to store more
items with ease.
7. This cute little robot would love to be a new addition to your family. Jibo can talk to you when you're bored, take photos without
someone missing out, educate young ones, order you food, text your friends and so much more.
8. We've all been here: opening a public bathroom door with your hands can be gross. In fact, research shows that door handles
have been found to carry more bacteria and germs than anything else in the public restroom. This is just another reason why this
invention is perfect. The foot handle can be mounted to any door and easily opened with any foot.
9. These smart eyeglasses are much more than you think. They can monitor your concentration, tiredness and sleepiness levels
and display that information to you through your phone. Why not? These bad boys debuted in 2015 with a starting price of six
hundred and ninety dollars.
10. This invention would be perfect for those in need. You can stick this straw in a river, lake, or pond and it will instantly purify and
filter the water as you suck it through the straw. Just imagine how many lives can be saved because of this invention.

Find more on www.picnicenglish.com or follow us on Facebook/Twitter

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