Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
Presentation 3.2.1
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology, Third Edition/
Technology, Engineering, and Design
Open
Systems
What is a
System?
Proper
Operation
of Systems
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
Closed
Systems
Universal
Systems
Model
What is a system?
• A system is a group of interrelated
components designed collectively to achieve a
desired goal.
• Systems are used in a number of ways in
technology and appear in many aspects of
daily life, such as solar systems, political
systems, and technological systems.
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
Information
•Email Message
Tools/
Machines
Production
•Modem
•Computer
PROCESS
INPUT
Management
People
• Server/modem
access
• Privacy Issues
•Sender of message
Expected
Desired
Materials
• Typing of
message
• Sending of
data
•Data
•Plastic for computer
•Wiring for
CPU/Monitor
• Person
receives email
OUTPUT
Email answered
Unexpected
Undesired
FEEDBACK
Email not answered
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
Return email stating
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
undeliverable
Foundations of Technology
• Email is sent to
wrong person
Example of an
Email System
Open Systems
• An open-loop system has no feedback path and
requires human intervention.
• An example of an open-loop system is a microwave
oven that requires the person to put in a time to cook
the food. There is no feedback to say the food is
actually cooked thoroughly when the microwave turns
off; the person may have to put in more time, or the
food may be overcooked.
PROCESS
INPUT
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
OUTPUT
Closed Systems
• A system that uses feedback from the output
to control the input.
• An example of a closed-loop system is the
heating system in a home, which has a
thermostat to provide feedback when the
heat needs to be turned on and off.
PROCESS
INPUT
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
Universal Systems Model
• Every system that exists can be broken down
using the universal systems model.
PROCESS
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
Input
Inputs consist of the resources that flow into a
technological system. Inputs include:
• People
• Materials
PROCESS
• Tools and/or Machines
INPUT
OUTPUT
• Energy
• Information
FEEDBACK
• Capital
• Time
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
Inputs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
People determine the need, solutions to the
problems, and how the inputs will be used to
obtain the output.
Information: The people must have background
knowledge of math and science to appropriately
design solutions to problems and carry out the
solutions.
Materials: Natural or man-made materials go
into the creation of the output.
Machines and/or Tools are needed to turn raw
materials or industrial materials into final
solutions.
Energy allows work to be carried out
throughout the system.
Capital: the money and land needed to create
the output
Time: needed to design, create, and assess the
solution
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
PROCESS
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
INPUT
PEOPLE
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
MACHINES/
TOOLS
ENERGY
CAPITAL
TIME
PROCESS
Process
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
• The process is the systematic sequence of actions that
combines resources to produce an output.
• Processes can be categorized into:
– Problem Solving: process that works through problem identification to
select a final solution
– Production: process that involves the creation of the product or
structure
– Management: controlling and managing the inputs and other
processes involved in the system
PROBLEM SOLVING
PRODUCTION
MANAGEMENT
PROCESS
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
Output
PROCESS
INPUT
• The output is the end result, which
can have either a positive or negative
impact. Outputs can take the
following forms:
–
–
–
–
Unexpected Desired
Expected Desired
Unexpected Undesired
Expected Undesired
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
OUTPUT
UNEXPECTED DESIRED
EXPECTED DESIRED
UNEXPECTED UNDESIRED
EXPECTED UNDESIRED
PROCESS
Feedback
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
• Feedback is information used to
monitor or control a system. The feedback loop
allows the system to make necessary adjustments
during operation.
• New and frequent users need to execute systems so
that they function in the way they were designed to
avoid malfunctions or safety issues.
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
The stability of a technological system is influenced by
all of the components in the system, especially those
in the feedback loop.
Equally important is the proper use of systems.
PROCESS
INPUT
OUTPUT
FEEDBACK
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
New and frequent users need to operate systems so
that they function in the way they were designed in
order to avoid malfunctions or safety issues.
Consider the mobile phone example from the
engagement; have you witnessed someone or have
you improperly operated a mobile phone? What
happened? How could a user error produce an
unexpected output?
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology
References
Productivity: when more products (output) are being
produced with fewer resources (input).
Systems: allows us to use Technology to solve
problems and extend our capabilities.
© 2011 International Technology and Engineering Educators Association,
STEMCenter for Teaching and Learning™
Foundations of Technology, Third Edition /
Technology, Engineering, and Design