RESOURCES FOR TECHNOLOGY

Technological Resources Every technological process involves the use of seven resources:  People  Information  Materials  Tools & Machines  Energy  Capital  Time

Technological Resources  People –People create technology and people consume its products and services –Former USSR sent the first satellite, Sputnik, into space in 1957 –NASA was created in US in 1958 to direct the space program –US astronauts landed on the moon in 1969 –People provide the labor on which technology depends –People are also the consumer of the technology

Technological Resources  Information –Technology has grown quickly in the last few decades due to an explosion of information --- internet –Information is used in different ways: surgeon, engineer, farmer etc. –Data --- raw facts and figures –Data is collected, recorded, classified, calculated, stored, and retrieved --- it becomes information –Data processing is the act of turning data into information –Information can be found in computer files, books, films, and museums.

Technological Resources  Materials –Natural resources are materials found in nature --- air, water, land, timber, minerals, plants, and animals –Raw materials --- natural resources that are used to make finished products –Renewable raw materials are those that can grown and therefore can be replaced --- wood, natural rubber, animals and plants etc –Nonrenewable raw materials --- oil, gas, coal, and minerals –Limited and unlimited resources --- water, oil etc –Synthetic materials --- nylon, acrylic, teflon, dacron, rayon and fiberglass –Synthetics are not costly and often are more useful than natural materials --- glass, plastics

Technological Resources  Tools and Machines –Tools Extend Human capability –Hand tools extend the power of human muscle –Machines change the amount, speed, or direction of a force Simple machines provide a mechanical advantage, i.e. they multiply the force or distance we put into work --- page 32 –Electronic tools are used for testing electrical circuits. –Optical tools extend the power of the human eye --- lenses, microscopes, telescopes and laser Lasers send very strong bursts of light energy that can be used to measure, cut, and weld materials It can also be used to repair damage in a human eye

Technological Resources  Energy –It is needed to move, to heat, to cool, to lighten –Renewable energy sources: human, animal muscle, wood –Limited energy sources: oil, coal, natural gas and nuclear fission –Unlimited energy sources: solar, wind, gravitational, tidal, geothermal and nuclear fusion –Many forms of energy start with the sun –Six different kinds of energy sources : human and animal muscle power, solar energy, gravitational energy, geothermal energy, chemical energy and nuclear energy –We can convert energy sources into mechanical, electrical, and light energy –We can only change matter into energy or change one form of energy into another form

Technological Resources  Capital –Any form of wealth is capital --- cash, stock, buildings, machinery, and land –To raise capital, a company may sell stock –Investors become part owners or shareholders –Company may turn back some of its profit to investors in the form of dividends –Companies may take loan from a bank --- interest  Time –Early man measured time by sun rise and sun set –Computers process data in nanoseconds (billionth of a sec)