1. Benefits –vs- Consequences
Anytime a new product is created engineers must look at the intended benefits –vs- the unintended consequences.
Intended benefits are the “good things: a product was meant to do.
Intended Benefit An intended benefit is the positive purpose for which a technology is designed to be used.
Ex: A refrigerator keeps food from spoiling.

2. Benefits –vs- Consequences
Unintended consequences are the “bad things” that are caused by the new technology that engineers did not anticipate happening.
Unintended consequences are uses or results that engineers do not purposely include in the design of products. An unintended consequence can be harmful or beneficial.
Ex: Early refrigerators used toxic gas to cool. The gas began to leak as the refrigerator got older.