MPU 3252
INVENTION & INNOVATION
Chapter 2: Core Concepts of Technology
Contents
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The designed world
Core concepts of technology
Common system found in technology
Systems & subsystems of the
transportation & construction technologies
The Designed World
Human live in three worlds:
1. The natural world
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Consists of plants and animals, earth, air, water and fire – things that
would exist without human intervention or invention
The social world
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Customs, cultures, political systems, legal systems, economies,
religions and the various other mores that humans have devised to
govern their interaction and relationships with one another
The designed world
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Consists of all modifications that humans have made to the natural
world to satisfy their own needs and wants. It is the product of a
designed process that provides ways to turn resources – materials,
tools and machines, people, information, energy, capital and time
The Designed World
Human live in three worlds:
1. The natural world
-
2.
Consists of plants and animals, earth, air, water and fire – things that
would exist without human intervention or invention
The social world
-
3.
Customs, cultures, political systems, legal systems, economies,
religions and the various other mores that humans have devised to
govern their interaction and relationships with one another
The designed world
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Consists of all modifications that humans have made to the natural
world to satisfy their own needs and wants. It is the product of a
designed process that provides ways to turn resources – materials,
tools and machines, people, information, energy, capital and time
The Designed World
Steps of design process:
1. Identify the problem – what is the problem
2. Define or “refine” the problem – be specific
narrow the choice to one problem
3. Gather information investigate ways to solve
the problem – search all over for information
and choices
4. Develop alternative solutions - find more than
one way to solve the problem
The Designed World
Steps of design process:
5. Select and refine the best solution – look at the
solutions pick the best choice use it fix the things
that won’t work
6. Express your solution draw a sketch to show
idea – put your ideas down on paper to show to
others and get help
7. Build a model or prototype – build a model or
prototype to show others and test.
The Designed World
Steps of design process:
8. Evaluate revise and refine the solution – use
your prototype to see how things work get the
kinks out
9. Communicate your solution – tell the world how
your solution works and how well it works.
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding
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Systems
Resources
Requirements
Optimization / Trade-off
Process
Controls
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding - Systems
• A system is a group of interrelated components
designed collectively to achieve a common goal
• A system requires all components to function
properly in order for the system to function. The
human body and electrical grid are example of a
system
• If one part fails, all other parts are impacted and
may result in the failure of the entire system
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding - Resources
• All technological activities require resources,
which are the things needed to get a job down
• The basic resources are: tools and machines,
materials, information, energy, capital, time and
people
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding - Requirements
• Requirements are the parameter placed on the
development of a product or system
• There are the “must do” components of a design
• Criteria identify the desired features of a product
or system
• Constraints involve the limitations of a design
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding – Optimization/Trade-off
• It involves making the product as functional as it
can be, given the criteria and constraints
• A trade-off involves a choice of one quality over
another
• An example would be making a product out of
plastic (which would be cheaper) over using
more expensive aluminum or other material
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding – Processes
• A process is a sequence of actions used to
combine resources in order to produce an output
• An example would be measuring ingredients,
combining and baking the mixture to make a
cake
Core Concepts of Technology
Understanding – Controls
• Controls are the mechanisms or activities that
use information to cause system to change
• Controls may be manual (like the gas pedal in
an automobile) or automatic (like the thermostat
used to control the temperature of your home)
• Controls are the essential ingredient in a closedloop system
Common Systems Found in
Technology
• Some systems are found in nature, some are
made by humans
• Systems have parts or components that work
together to accomplish a goal
• Tools are simple object that help human
complete tasks
• Different materials are used in making things
• People plan in order to get things done
System & Subsystem
• A subsystem is a system that operates as
a part of another system
– An example of subsystem is the collection of
water pipes in a house, which is part of a
larger fresh water distribution system in a
town
• When parts of a system are missing, it
may not work as planned
System & Subsystem
• An open loop system has no feedback path &
requires human intervention
– An example of an open-loop system is a microwave
oven that requires a person to determine if the food
has been heated to the required temperature
• A closed loop system uses feedback
– An example of closed loop system is the heating
system in a home, which has a thermostat to provide
feedback when it needs to be turned on or off
Designed World in Medical Technology
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People in today’s health oriented society spend
more time and money to live longer and more
productive lives
In 1990 a human life expectancy was 47 years,
today it exceeds 76 year
Designed World in Medical Technology
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Vaccination
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Help build protection to disease and are often administered early in life
Some immunizations are given over a period of several months
Medicine
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Some medicines require a long period of time before they become
effective and require repeated doses
Medical products
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Everyday products such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes and soap are
used to promote healthy living
Tools & machines
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Products such as artificial limbs, wheelchairs, thermometer, blood
pressure machine and heart monitor help determine if people are well
and provide other health clue
Designed World in Medical Technology
Designed World in Agricultural &
Biotechnology
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Agriculture is the growing of plants and animals
for food, fiber, fuel, chemical or other useful
products
Biotechnology is defined as any techniques that
uses living organisms, or part of organisms, to
make or modify products, improve plants or
animals, or to develop microorganism for
specific purposes
Designed World in Agricultural &
Biotechnology
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The use of technologies in agriculture makes it
possible for food to be available year round and
conserve resources
There are many different tools necessary to
control and make up the parts of an ecosystem
Most agriculture waste can be recycled
Many processes used in agriculture require
different procedures, products or system
Designed World in Agricultural &
Biotechnology
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Biotechnology applies the principles of biology
to create commercial products or processes
The development of refrigeration, freezing,
dehydration, preservation and irradiation
provide long term storage of food and reduce
the health risks caused by tainted food
Designed World in Agricultural &
Biotechnology
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Biotechnology applies the principles of biology
to create commercial products or processes
The development of refrigeration, freezing,
dehydration, preservation and irradiation
provide long term storage of food and reduce
the health risks caused by tainted food
Designed World in Agricultural &
Biotechnology
Designed World in ICT
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People have long used various technologies to
communicate over distances
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Powerful technologies that deal with information in a
digital form; computers, data storage devices, fiberoptic communications and others have revolutionized
society’s information handling capacity and led to the
current era being called the information age
Designed World in ICT
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ICT technologies include the inputs, processes
and outputs associated with sending and
receiving information
ICT systems allow information to be transferred
from human to human, human to machine ,
machine to human and machine to machine
ICT led to the valued commodity in today’s
society
Designed World in ICT
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ICT systems can be used to inform, persuade,
entertain, control, manage and educate
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Internet
Telephones
Radio
Televisions
Computers
Fax machine
Designed World in Transportation
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The transportation system is a complex
network of interconnected components that
operate on land, water, in the air and space
Many of the subsystems of the transportation
system, such as highways, ports, airports and
others are dependent upon other subsystem
Throughout history, transportation systems
have brought different parts of the world closer
together
Designed World in Transportation
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As transportation has advanced, society has
become increasingly dependent upon cars,
highways and other aspects of travel
Future use of transportation systems should
take into account ways to reduce energy
consumption and air pollution while promoting
economic development and supporting
international commerce
Designed World in Transportation
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Transportation play a vital role in the operation
of other technologies, such as manufacturing,
construction, communication, health and safety
and agriculture
Transportation services and methods have led
to a population that is regularly on the move
The design of an intelligent and non-intelligent
transportation systems depends on many
processes and innovative techniques
Designed World in Transportation
Designed World in Construction
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The process involved in designing and making
structures are typically referred to a
construction
The Chinese erected the Great Wall; the
Egyptians
built
pyramids;
the
Greek
constructed elaborate building; and the
Romans created remarkable roads
Designed World in Construction
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Structures are constructed using a variety of
processes and procedures
The design of structures includes a number of
requirements
Structures require maintenance, alteration, or
renovation periodically to improve them or to
alter their intended use
Structures can include prefabricated materials