smartwatches

Smartwatches

90 ESL discussion questions about wearable tech, covering health monitoring, constant notifications, battery life limits, the trade-off between convenience and distraction, and the future of wrist devices.
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A1 Level – Elementary

1. Do you wear a watch?

2. What is a small screen?

3. Do you like tracking your steps?

4. What is a long battery life?

5. Do you think they are useful?

6. What is a quick check?

7. Do you worry about running out of power?

8. What is a clear notification?

9. Do you think they help with health?

10. What is a simple habit?

11. Do you like simple watches more?

12. What is a fun app?

13. Do you like fast information?

14. What are three things a smartwatch can do?

15. Do you think technology is always good?

A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate

1. What is the difference between a traditional watch and a smartwatch?

2. Why are fitness tracking features so popular?

3. What are the good things and bad things about constant notifications?

4. How can a person politely ask someone to stop looking at their wrist?

5. Should all people use a device to monitor their health?

6. Why is it important to have an accurate heart rate sensor?

7. Do you think they make people too obsessed with data?

8. What is the purpose of sleep tracking?

9. How does wearing one affect concentration?

10. What is the difference between simple counting and complex analysis?

11. Do you think people buy them to look modern?

12. What are the problems when the battery life is very short?

13. When is the best time to check your daily activity data?

14. What are two things that make a smartwatch distracting?

15. How does a lack of accuracy affect reliance on the data?

B1 Level – Intermediate

1. What are the simple ways to politely refuse to share your health data?

2. How does the cost affect who can afford this technology?

3. Should the government provide resources to promote digital health literacy?

4. What is the difference between being informed and being obsessed with data?

5. Do you believe that wearable tech will eventually replace phones?

6. What are the challenges of finding one that is comfortable for long use?

7. How does focusing on connectivity affect the need for a simple device?

8. What is the idea of “quantified self”?

9. Is it fair when a person is judged for their high-tech accessory?

10. How does a lack of clear goals affect fitness tracking motivation?

11. What are the basic steps for turning off distracting notifications?

12. What is the value of quick, glanceable information on the wrist?

13. Should the news talk more about data privacy concerns?

14. What are the simple reasons why some people prefer traditional watches?

15. How does the history of watchmaking affect modern design?

B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate

1. What are the simple social problems caused by constant wrist checking?

2. What are the ethical issues when companies use health data for profit?

3. How does constant social media showing of “perfect workouts” affect others?

4. Should companies be legally required to disclose their data sharing policies?

5. How does the feeling of constant connection affect a person’s stress levels?

6. Who is responsible for educating the public on data security risks?

7. What is your simple view on the practice of high-cost luxury models?

8. What is the role of AI in analyzing and interpreting health metrics?

9. How does the problem of e-waste affect the environment?

10. What are the clear problems with allowing people to hide their intent?

11. What are the legal differences between general tracking and medical device status?

12. Do you think the main purpose of the device is to replace the phone?

13. What steps can individual citizens take to protect their health data?

14. How does the lack of clear rules affect public usage and privacy?

15. What are the simple psychological effects of receiving an unexpected health alert?

C1 Level – Advanced

1. Is it fair that access to health insights is often paywalled?

2. What is the moral duty of a company to ensure the accuracy of health data?

3. How do global supply chains affect the price and availability of components?

4. When should the government consider mandatory limits on notification frequency?

5. What are the simple ethical problems of companies profiting from anxiety about health?

6. How does focusing on data affect the need for intuitive listening to one’s body?

7. Discuss the effects of long-term high-frequency use on sleep quality.

8. How should leaders use policy to promote responsible technology use?

9. What is the idea of “techno-stress”?

10. What are the long-term social effects when personal health data is highly commercialized?

11. What are the clear difficulties when courts try to decide if a device caused a misleading health event?

12. How does the desire for control affect the need for simple, balanced living?

13. Do you think the most important thing is the preservation of data autonomy?

14. What are the simple moral rules a person should follow when sharing their health metrics?

15. Should the government set a clear standard for health data security?

C2 Level – Proficiency

1. What is the true difference between a manufactured alert and authentic physiological need?

2. Should we eliminate the system that allows for massive data collection?

3. How does the idea of health change when all metrics are perfectly known?

4. What laws are needed to prevent major corporate disregard for consumer privacy?

5. How do historical views of time, monitoring, and control affect modern society?

6. How can a society ensure that empathy is shown to people with health anxiety?

7. Do you think total removal of all tracking would fix dependency problems?

8. What simple rules should guide people when they encounter complex health data?

9. How can we stop people from using personal choice as an excuse for poor habits?

10. What did old thinkers say about body, mind, and the pursuit of knowledge?

11. What will happen to the need for human intuition if AI tracks all vital signs?

12. How do people use the idea of “I’m monitoring my health” to avoid discussing anxiety?

13. How does the experience of a major data breach change a person’s view of tech?

14. What is the power of a group to demand ethical and safe technology?

15. If scientists could create a perfect, personalized health coach device, what would happen?

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