Chapter 2: Technological Resources and Systems

  • New Unit 2: Technological Resources and Systems from Gateway to Engineering, 2nd Edition, Delmar/Cengage Learning 2013

     

     

    Section 1: Technological Resources

    • Technological Resource 1: People
    • Technological Resource 2: Energy
    • Technological Resource 3: Capital
    • Technological Resource 4: Information
    • Technological Resource 5: Tools and Machines
    • Technological Resource 6: Materials
    • Technological Resource 7: Time

     

    Section 2: Technological Systems

    • Open-Loop and Closed-Loop Systems
    • Communication Systems
    • Production Systems
    • Transportation Systems

    Section 3: Impacts of Technology

    • The Effect of Engineering on the Environment
    • The Effect of Engineering on Society

     

    Vocabulary:

    Technological Resource:A resource is something that has value and that can be used to satisfy human needs and wants.

    Energy:Energy is the ability to do work.

    Work:Work is [1] how much force it takes to move some object a set distance, and [2] the transfer of energy from one physical system to another.

    System:A system is a set or group of parts that all work together in a systematic, organized way to accomplish a task.

    Subsystem:A subsystem is a system that operates as part of another system.

    Open-Loop System:An open-loop system is the simplest type of system and requires human action to be regulated.

    Closed-Loop System:A closed-loop system includes an automatic feedback loop to regulate the system.

    Constraint:A constraint is a limit, such as appearance, budget, space, materials, or human capital, in the design process.

    Chapter 2: Technological Resources and Systems [page 28]

    1)    What resources are needed in engineering and technology?

    There are 7 resources for technology: People, Energy, Capital, Information, Tools and Machines, Materials and Time.

    2)    What are technological systems?

    A Technological System is a set or group of parts that all work together in a systematic, organized way to accomplish a task. Systems are critical parts of technology.

    3)    What is a closed-loop system?

    A Closed-Loop System adds an automatic feedback loop to a system [input ? process ? output ?feedback]. The purpose of the feedback loop is to regulate the system.

    4)    How do engineering and technology affect the environment?

    All human engineering and technological activities affect people, society, and the environment. Sometimes such impacts are planned and sometimes not. We call planned impacts anticipated and unplanned impacts unanticipated. These can be either positive or negative. Air Pollution is added to the environment and may cause acid rain. Pollution does not stop at state and federal boundaries.

    5)    How do engineering and technology shape society?

    Technologies a society develops partly determine how people live, work, and play. Communication is extremely rapid between citizens in a country and between countries.

    6)    How does society influence engineering and technological development?

    Societies determine which technologies are developed. Social customs and religious beliefs influence what products are developed and used by people in a given society. Example: Amish do not use certain forms of technology [p. 45]

    Stretch Your Knowledge Activities:

    1. Why is it important for students as citizens to have a solid understanding of technology?
    2. Why are technological resources important in the field of engineering?
    3. In what ways do engineering and technology affect the following: people, society, and the environment?
    4. Explain the idea that engineering and technology can have anticipated, unanticipated, positive, or negative consequences.
    5. Research a technological development and describe how it has affected people and the environment. Present your research findings to the class.

     

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