Standards: MSENGR-EET Exploring Technology Standards: MSENGR-EET

Are You Sure about That? 1876: “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” (Western Union) 1895: “Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible.” (Lord Kelvin) 1948: “Television won’t last. It’s a flash in the pan.” (Mary Somerville) 1977: “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home.”

Ask yourself What does the statement mean? Who said it, what was their role at the time? Is it true? How does this technology impact us today? (how has it changed?)

Ask yourself: Why do new technologies become accepted? For example: television, telephones, computers.

Preview Vocabulary Technology Science Emerging technology Impact Quality Technology assessment Technological literacy Invention Innovation Agricultural Industrial Information Rate of change Technology resources

What is Technology? It solves a problem It’s a product The knowledge and processes used to solve problems by designing and making products and structures The two parts to technology: It solves a problem It’s a product Technological Literacy – having an understanding of technology

Invention & Innovation Invention – a new device or system Innovation – an improvement to an existing technology

System A group of parts that work together to achieve a goal INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT FEEDBACK

Technology resources People Information Materials Tools & Machines Time Energy Capital

Technology changes lives Farming led to waterwheel Waterwheel led to not grinding grain by hand Waterwheel also lead to many other changes Social changes include: One per community, job/career, commercial value

Why Technology Changes New problems New opportunities One often leads to another Society demands change Innovation Emerging Technologies – new technologies that are just coming into use New problems: dwindling oil supplies

Analyzing Technology Technology Assessment - The study of the effects of a technology What is an impact? The effect a technology has on society. What is quality? The measure of excellence of a technology. Impacts – is technology good or bad (Ticket-out-the-door)

The Rate of Change Slow rapid in the past, took decades or centuries Today, , changes daily Slow rapid

Exponential rate of change

Six Areas of Technology Communication: sending and receiving messages Manufacturing: making things Construction: building structures or shelters Transportation: Moving people or goods Bio-related: relating to own body or living environment Energy/Power: ability to release energy and use it in other systems

Combined Technologies The six mentioned previously often blend together Examples: Airplanes Discuss some examples with a partner

Technology and Human Knowledge All the subjects in school relate to technology How? Technology & Science Technology & Math Technology and Language Arts Technology and Social Studies

Technological Literacy Having an understanding of technology Technological literacy goes beyond just using a technology, but understanding how it works, how it is made, how it impacts us. All of the above must be considered when thinking critically about a technology.

History of Technology Humans have always used technology Solving problems and meeting needs ERAs of Technology: Agricultural Age Industrial Age Information Age

History cont’d The technology of the society has been dependent upon the area and needs of the people Examples: Tigris-Euphrates Valley Egyptians Greeks and Romans Maya China T-E – flood control Egyptians – Pyramids Greeks and Romans – ships Maya – Irrigation China – Great wall, protection

Three Significant Eras -TIME Agricultural Age (10,000 BC – 1750s) Includes Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages Industrial Age (1750s – 1950s) Information Age (1950s – Present)

Technological focus Agricultural Age Emphasis on past Industrial Age Emphasis on present Informational Age Emphasis on future

Resources Agricultural Age Land, trees, muscle Industrial Age Capital, steel, fossil fuels Information Age Information, synthetics, electricity

Products & Production Agricultural Age Food, fiber, farming Rural Industrial Age Material goods, factories Urban Information Age Information, laboratories Rural & Urban

Social Structure Agricultural - Decentralized, monarchy, aristocracy, dictatorship Industrial - Centralized, representative democracy Information - Decentralized, participatory democracy

Financial Resources Agricultural - Decentralized banking, barter Industrial - Centralized banking Information - Decentralized banking, new financial institutions

Work & Education Agricultural Age Physical, on-the-job Industrial Age Physical/Mental, formal education Information Age Mental, formal education, lifelong learning