Introduction to Technology What is Engineering Technology Technology

Introduction to Technology

What is Engineering & Technology? • Technology Education- using tools and machines to process materials in order to solve a problem. • Science- (1) the study of the natural world and laws that govern it, (2) knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific method. • Technology- (1) the processes humans use to develop new products to meet their needs and wants; (2) the products or artifacts actually made, (3) using knowledge to develop products and systems that satisfy needs, solve problems, and increase our capabilities.

What is Engineering & Technology? • Engineer- an engineer is a person who designs products, structures, or systems to improve people’s lives. • Engineering- the process of designing solutions. • Engineering Technologist- a person who works in a field closely related to engineering. The technologist’s work is usually applied or practical, whereas the engineer’s work is more theoretical.

What is Engineering & Technology? • Innovation- an improvement of an existing product, process, or system. • Invention- a new product, system, or process that has never existed before, created by study and experiments. • Patent- a contract between the federal government and the inventor that gives the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, and sell the product for a period of 17 years.

History [Evolution] of Technology • Basic Human Needs- something essential to maintaining life [food, water, shelter and clothing]. • Basic Human Wants- something nice to have to make life more enjoyable [recreation, transportation, health care, etc. ]. • All people have needs and wants- food, water, shelter, communication, protection, recreation, transportation, and health care.

History [Evolution] of Technology Pre-Historic Age Technology began when the first humans learned to manipulate the world around them; it is as old as the human race. If you believe in Evolution from 10, 000 years ago to about 3, 000 b. c. ; if you believe in Creation from about 4, 000 b. c. to about 3, 000 b. c. • Man used simple technology for basic needs. • -made stone axes for various needs [hunting animals for food, protection’ and construction of shelter].

History [Evolution] of Technology Agricultural Age • After settling in villages, peoples activities centered around farming and raising livestock. • Agriculture changed how people lived and worked. • New technologies developed to satisfy new wants and needs • Hoe, plow and sickle were developed

Time Passes • People learn more about their world and undertake more complex tasks. • Development of the loom to weave fabric. • Trade develops so the need for transportation increases. • Systems are developed and improved upon. • Bridges and better roads make it easier to move between villages.

History [Evolution] of Technology Industrial Age • In 1700’s new technology exploded on to the scene • Steam engine enabled factories to produce new products • Transportation systems improved to move goods and people faster

History [Evolution] of Technology Information. Age • Began in the 1950’s brought on by the need to gather, organize, store, and share information. • The Information Age was built upon the development of the transistor and the computer

History [Evolution] of Technology Information. Age • The technologies of the Information Age touch all aspects of life. – Fuel the research that has advanced medicine – doctors can diagnose and treat illnesses that previously couldn’t be cured – Need for recreation- video games, portable stereos, CD players, video recorders, mp 3 players, etc.

Engineering Careers • Aerospace Engineer- an aerospace engineer designs machines that fly. • Civil Engineer- a person who designs and supervises the construction of public works projects [such as highways, bridges, sanitation facilities, and water treatment plants]. • Electrical Engineer- an electrical engineer designs electronic systems and products. • Environmental Engineer- an environmental engineer designs solutions to protect and maintain the environment. • Mechanical Engineer- a mechanical engineer designs products, ranging from simple toys to very large and complex machines.

Technological Resources • The Seven Resources of Technology- People, Information, Materials, Energy, Tools & Machines, Capital [Money], and Time. • Technological Resources- a resource is something that has value and that can be used to satisfy human needs and wants. • Energy- the ability to do work. • Work- the term engineers use to describe how much force it takes to move some object a set distance

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. People Information Materials Energy Tools and machines Capital (money) Time

Technological Systems • Systems- (1) a set or group of parts that all work together in a systematic, organized way to accomplish a task; (2) an orderly way of achieving a goal that contain inputs, processes, outputs and monitors in a feedback loop. • Subsystems- a system that operates as part of another system. • Open-Loop Systems- the simplest type of system, requires human action to be regulated. • Closed-Loop System- includes an automatic feedback loop to regulate the system. • Constraints- a limit, such as appearance, budget, space, materials, or human capital, in the design process.

Technological Systems • Input- something that is put into a system. • Process- the part of a system during which something is done or the “action”. To process means to change. • Output- results of the system, expected or unexpected, desired or undesired. • Feedback- information about the output. • Monitor- displays what is currently happening in the process.

Systems An orderly way of achieving a goal Keep house at 67 degrees Adjust Input process Output Process 7 resources Monitor Identify each part as it applies to a Home Heating System

Subsystems Complex systems are made up of smaller systems called subsystems. For Example - Stereo system Subsystem – CD Player – Tape player – Radio – Speakers

Technological Systems The Four Major Areas of Technology • Transportation- The process by which people, animals, products, and materials are moved from one place to another; processes used to move people or goods. For Example outside the factory- trucks, railroads, ships. Within factories- cranes and conveyors. • Production- The act or process of producing • Communication- A process of giving or exchanging information. • Biotechnology- The use of living organisms to make commercial products; processes used to make or change products using living organisms. The result of combining biology with technology

Technological Systems The Five Activities of Technology • Manufacturing- processes used in factories and shops to create products- involve the processes of forming, separating, combining, and conditioning materials. • Communication- A process of giving or exchanging information. • Transportation- The process by which people, animals, products, and materials are moved from one place to another; processes used to move people or goods. For example: outside the factory- trucks, railroads, ships. Within factories- cranes and conveyors.

Technological Systems The Five Activities of Technology • Construction- processes used to build the structures in which manufacturing takes place. • Biotechnology- processes used to make or change products using living organisms. The result of combining biology with technology – technologies that control industrial robots in factories have been adapted to human needs. For example myoelectric limbs use small motors and electronic circuits to control humanlike movement of the artificial limb.

Impacts of Technology • • Impacts- The power of an event or idea. Anticipated- a planned result Unanticipated- an unplanned result. Positive- an impact that benefits mankind and the environment. • Negative- an impact that is detrimental to man and the environment.

Impacts of Technology What are some examples of both positive and negative impacts of a specific technology (Do the positive impacts outweigh the negative? If not do we continue this technology? ) • Automobile • Computers +, +, - • Genetic Engineering +, -