Current Technology
Now that you have problem solved and developed an issue for
your primary and secondary research project, you will write an
essay that summarizes the present technology of the possible
technological solution to your problem.
This paper is very similar to the G/T science project
introductory paper that many students do in 7th grade.
Remember now that you are writing a research paper you
want to avoid using voice.
 You must first outline your paper with main ideas. Your
outline will be collected with the paper.
 Give an overview of the present form of technology or
technologies
 Include scientific principles involved in how the
technology functions
 Define a key challenge or limitation of the present
technology that you address in your project
 You must write in the proper research paper format
 Your paper should be between 1-2 pages
 Your paper should be double spaced and Times New
Roman
 Your opening paragraph should describe the different
types of technology you will be describing. Each
paragraph after that will describe one of the technologies
from your opening sentence. You should have a topic
sentence, transition sentence and an explanation for each
technology.
You may also revise a paper and return for a corrected grade. There is a limited
time though after a paper is returned to do this.
Sample Current Technology Paper
Every year, for absolute beginners and fluent freestylers alike, a lingering fear of
drowning is present in perhaps every body of water. Although experience and knowledge
can often limit the possibility of submerging under the waves, water safety remains a
largely controversial topic. The SwimSave Life Saving Swimsuit will limit these fears,
using cutting edge sensor technology, wireless transmission, and buoyant inflation
material to save struggling swimmers in all life threatening scenarios rise to the top.
For instance, the SwimSave Life Saving Swimsuit employs various sensors to
detect if a swimmer is struggling for breath. Current sensor technology consists of an
input, such as a photodiode in the case of a light sensor, activating an output, such as a
display, in response. There are two main classifications of sensors; passive and active
sensors. Active sensors use a power source to produce the output of an electrical signal
varying of three types; infrared, microwave, and sound waves, detecting movement or
irregularities in the signal area through changes in voltage. Passive sensors, however, do
not pass through energy, instead detecting variations in the property being observed
through energy produced by other sources. In addition, two types of sensors are present;
Analogue and Digital. Analogue sensors create a constant, smooth, electrical output
signal which identifies data in relation to the quantity being measured, while digital
sensors create discontinuous signals as binary numbers representing the data collected
from the property observed. Applying these types of sensors, it is ultimately possible to
sense that a swimmer is drowning through the combination of various motion, position,
and pressure sensors. Of course, current sensor technology has it’s limitations, as
questions can be raised regarding the sensor’s ability to produce an electrical signal
capable of passing through water, accurately and consistently detect the subtle differences
of a person drowning, and more. Nonetheless, sensors are an important technology vital
to eventually conjure a life saving swimsuit.
In addition, another current technology key to the SwimSave Life Saving
Swimsuit is wireless transmission. Wireless transmission is essentially the ability to
transfer information from one device to another, without the use of cables connecting the
two devices, or receivers, together. Utilizing this technology, many obstacles of cable
transmission, such as cable breakage and immobility become obsolete, as well as the
allowance of new innovations, such as mobile devices that are capable of relaying and
receiving data. In order to transmit information wirelessly, signal waves of all variations;
radio, microwave, infrared, and light waves are used to relaying information between the
two devices. Different types of signals are used dependent on the purpose and conditions
in which the wireless network operates. Radio waves are easily generated due to its large
wavelength from 1 millimeter to 100,000 kilometer, capable of penetrating solid objects
at low frequencies. Microwaves, however, have a dramatically shorter wavelength range,
from 1 millimeter to 1 meter, and cannot pass through solid objects. In addition, infrared
waves have a range of 700 nanometers to 1 millimeter and are often used for television
and remotes. Finally, although often interrupted by natural obstacles, light waves use
laser signals to transmit information safely. All means of wireless transmission uses one
of these available waves to send digital data transferred into the wireless signals until
received by the opposite device, where the wireless signals are converted back into digital
data. Through this process, information is successfully transmitted wirelessly. In the
field of current wireless technology, many problems and questionable aspects remain. For
example, at high frequencies, many waves fail to pass through solid obstacles. This
applies to wireless communication by satellite, often used in GPS systems, as signals can
be blocked by buildings and other solid covers. Nonetheless, wireless technology has still
proven very useful and creates a foundation for new innovations.
Finally, the use of current buoyant material and technology in various devices can
save thousands of lives in unexpected situations. To grasp the concept of buoyancy and
its applications, it is important to understand the definition of buoyancy itself. Buoyancy
defines an object which is capable of floating on a liquid. In order for an object to attain
buoyancy, the particular object’s density must be less than the density of the fluid,
causing the upward force of the fluid to balance the force of gravity pushing down on the
object. However, in order for an object to become buoyant in addition to keeping a
human being afloat, or act as a lifesaving device, the total density of the buoyant material
and the person combined must continue to be lesser than the density of the liquid. Thus,
life jackets often use air and other sparsely packed gases to add more volume, yet a
minimal amount of increased mass, effectively decreasing the total density and keeping
the person afloat. There are many different methods to apply the concept of buoyancy to
floatation devices. To illustrate, floatation devices classified as inherently buoyant keep
the user afloat by trapping air into chambers when underwater or simply being filled with
buoyant material to begin with. Thus, they are the most commonly used, as they do not
require the user to activate them. In addition, some floatation devices are classified as
inflatable. These floatation devices release carbon dioxide through cartridges in the
device until buoyancy has been achieved. This design provides the ability to swim
unassisted until the need of extra buoyancy arises, whereas inherently buoyant devices
must be inflated before or upon immediate contact with water, although the carbon
dioxide cartridges often need to be manually activated. Finally, classified hybrid
floatation devices combine features of both inherently buoyant and inflatable devices,
containing a small amount of built in buoyant material as well as an inflatable chamber.
Despite various types of designs and improved technology, life saving devices have some
hindrances. Often, the general public is seldom aware of the importance of floatation
devices, resulting in completely preventable drowning incidents. In addition, devices can
easily be damaged by sharp objects or improper use, causing cartridges and buoyant
material to leak out in designs. Aside from these limitations, buoyant technology
continues to serve as a preventer of the preventable and save countless lives.
All these various innovative and useful current technologies can be combined to
finally create the SwimSave Saving Swimsuit. With the possibility of these select
technologies as well as human’s overall scientific knowledge improving in the future, this
design has potential to evolve into a breakthrough product. Particularly, it may even settle
down the fear that drives mothers from sending their child to the swimming pool, and
professional surfers from challenging a daunting wave for good.