1. Standards: MSENGR-EET
Exploring Technology
Standards: MSENGR-EET

2. 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.”

3. 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?)

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

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

6. 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

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

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

9. Technology resources People Information Materials Tools & Machines
Time
Energy
Capital

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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)

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

14. Exponential rate of change

15. 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

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

17. 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

18. 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.

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

20. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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