Chapter 3: Technology and Engineering Section 3-1 Understanding Technology

What is Technology? Definition: How people change the world around them to meet their needs or to solve practical problems Example: SUV’s, cordless phones, ipods, probiotic foods, photo paper Goal: To improve the way people live

6 Areas of Technology TTTTransportation----- cars CCCCommunication cell phones MMMManufacturing ---- plastic bags EEEEnergy and power ----Halogen lights CCCConstruction ---- ‘green’ office buildings BBBBiological and chemical ---- antibiotics, ‘green’ cleaning products

Science vs. Technology Science: The study of the natural world and how it functions Technology: The changing or modifying of the natural world to meet human needs or solve problems

Example: Views on Salt water Science: How did the salt become concentrated in ocean water? Technology: How can we remove the salt from ocean water to produce drinkable water?

How Technology Progresses  Obsolete technologies : no longer used because it doesn’t meet people’s needs as well as new technology.  Current technologies: Used currently and still meet our needs well.  Emerging technologies: those that are just beginning to become available, may be expensive or not work well yet.  Coexisting technologies: old technologies that still fulfill people’s needs.

Technology as a System Systems are made of parts that work together.  Goal: Purpose  Input: what is put in to achieve the goal  Process: sequence of actions that the system undergoes  Output: result or product (should match the goal)  Feedback: information used to adjust the system to achieve the goal