Technological Design

Unit Review Sheet

Facts and Definitions

Lesson 1: What Is Technology?

• Artifacts are objects that were made by or altered by humans for a specific purpose or task and include tools such as screwdrivers, hammers, or even paper.
• Hardware is any physical device that is used to accomplish a specific kind of work.
• Methodology is a group of methods, hypotheses, and rules utilized by a field of study to resolve problems or to maintain useful practices.
• A technique is a particular procedure or set of procedures.
• A system of production is a method used in assembly to create goods and conveniences from various resources.
• A social-technical system is a means by which the interaction between people and technology in workplaces is designed so that complex organizational work may be carried out with minimal waste of time and resources. It ensures that both human and technological elements work together efficiently, improving productivity while maintaining a positive and adaptive work environment.

Lesson 2: Technological Innovator

• Perspective is the appearance of objects to an observer allowing for the effect of their distance from the observer.
• Proportion is the correct or desirable relationship of size, quantity, or degree between two or more things or parts of something.

Lesson 3: Meaningful Technological Designs

• A benefit is something that has a good effect or promotes well-being.
• Something that is meaningful adds significance, meaning, or purpose to something or somebody's life.
• Something that is harmful causes damage or injury.

Lesson 4: Necessity vs. Luxury

• A necessity is something that is required or essential.
• A luxury is a good or service for which demand increases although the good or service is not required or essential.

Lesson 5: Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

• Innovation is a new idea, method, or device that introduces change.
• Proportion is a quantity of something that is part of the whole amount (e.g., half a pizza or a fourth of a cup). Proportion is the correct or desirable relationship of size, quantity, or degree between two or more things or parts of something.
• Scale is a system of measurement based on a series of marks laid down at regular intervals and representing numerical values (e.g., a ruler or hurricane strength).
• Linear perspective is a form of perspective in which drawings or paintings are given apparent depth by showing parallel lines as converging on the horizon.

Lesson 6: Da Vinci's Inventions

• Scientific principle is a problem or method that has to be proven by an exact point of science (e.g., gravity, friction, resistance).
• Risk is the chance or danger that injury, damage, or loss will occur.
• Benefit refers to something that has a good effect or promotes something good.
• Design constraint is a limiting factor such as the availability of resources or even the ability to make something necessary to complete a design.
• Testing protocol is a detailed plan for experiment or other piece of research.

Lesson 7: Contemporary Design Approaches

• Review the definitions of the following terms: scientific principle, risk, benefit, design constraint, and testing protocol.

Lesson 8: Engineering

• Engineering is the application of science in the design, planning, construction, and maintenance of manufactured things.
• Manufacturing is the production of something via industry, a mechanical process, or an individual invention.

Lesson 9: Modeling an Idea

• Modeling is creating a simplified version of something complex; the model is used in analyzing and solving problems or making predictions.

Final Project: Final Exam and Model Bridge

• [none]