Technology in Daily Life
Answer aloud before reading the samples — fluency over perfection.
How often do you use a computer or smartphone?
Pretty much constantly, to be honest. I use my phone first thing in the morning to check messages, and I'm on a laptop for most of the working day, so technology is woven into almost everything I do.
What kind of technology do you find most useful?
Probably navigation apps. I have a terrible sense of direction, so being able to find my way around an unfamiliar city without getting hopelessly lost has genuinely changed how confidently I travel.
Is there any technology you would like to learn to use?
I'd love to get to grips with video editing software. I take a lot of clips when I travel, but they just sit on my phone, and I think editing them properly would let me actually share the experience.
Do you think people rely on technology too much?
In some ways, yes. I notice that I reach for my phone whenever I have a spare moment, even when I don't need to, and I do worry that we're losing the ability to simply be bored and let our minds wander.
Describe a piece of technology that has made your life easier.
You should say
- what it is
- how long you have used it
- how you use it
- and explain why it has made your life easier
Sample answer
I'd like to talk about my wireless headphones, which might sound trivial but have honestly transformed my daily routine. I bought them about two years ago, mainly for commuting, and now I use them for everything — listening to podcasts on the train, taking calls while I cook, and blocking out noise when I need to concentrate. What makes them so useful is the freedom they give me. Before, I was forever untangling wires or leaving my phone on a table during a call; now I can move around the flat, do the washing-up, and still be fully part of a conversation. They also have a feature that lets in outside sound at the press of a button, which is reassuringly safe when I'm crossing a road. I think the reason I value them so much is that they've made dead time productive. A boring forty-minute commute has become the part of the day when I learn something or catch up with friends, and that small change has made a surprising difference to how I feel.
How has technology changed the way people communicate?
Enormously. Communication has become instant and constant — we can reach almost anyone, anywhere, in seconds. The downside is that a lot of it has shifted to text, which strips away tone and body language, so misunderstandings are arguably more common than they used to be.
Do you think older people find new technology difficult?
Some do, but I think that's often exaggerated. The real barrier isn't age so much as exposure and confidence. When older relatives are shown patiently how something works and can see a clear benefit, like video-calling grandchildren, they usually pick it up quickly.
What are the risks of children using technology from a young age?
The main concerns are around development and safety. Too much screen time can crowd out physical play and face-to-face interaction, which matter for social skills. There are also obvious risks online, so I think the key is supervision and teaching children to use devices critically rather than banning them outright.
woven into
deeply and inseparably part of something
"Technology is woven into almost every aspect of modern work."
to get to grips with
to begin to understand and deal with something difficult
"It took me a week to get to grips with the new software."
dead time
periods when you are not doing anything productive
"Audiobooks turn the dead time of a commute into something useful."
screen time
the amount of time spent looking at a phone, computer, or TV
"Many parents try to limit their children's screen time."
user-friendly
easy to use, even for beginners
"The app succeeded because it was so user-friendly."
cutting-edge
extremely modern and advanced
"The lab is full of cutting-edge medical equipment."