Understanding Technology

What are some examples of technology?

What is technology?

• coal burning stoves, trains, water faucets?
• ipods, cell phones, tvs?

When you see technology you probably think of computers and cell phones.

Technology has been around since stone tools were made!

Technology

• How people change the world around them to meet their needs or to solve practical problems.

The Goal of Technology

• to improve the way people live

Areas of Technology

• There are six major areas of technology

Transportation Technology

Communication Technology

Manufacturing Technology

Biological and Chemical Technology

Energy and Power Technology

Construction Technology

How Does Technology Relate to Science?

• Science is the study of the natural world to understand how it functions.
• Technology changes the natural world to meet human needs and solve problems.

How Technology Progresses

• Technology progresses as people's knowledge increases and as new needs can be satisfied.

Obsolete Technologies

• no longer use
• typewriters
• "car phones"

Current Technologies

• word processors
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Things we currently use.

Emerging Technologies

• voice to text
• the cloud
• Things that are starting to be used, but might still have "bugs."

Coexisting Technologies

• Things that we continue to use even though new technology has developed.
• pens and pencils

Technology as a System

• Made of parts that work together
• includes goal, inputs, processes, outputs, and feedback

Goal

• Purpose
• "Bake Cookies"

Input

• something put into the system
• "Gas Turned On..Temp"

Process

• sequence of actions that the system undergoes
• "Burning gas heats up oven"

Output

• Results or product
• "Baked Cookies"

Feedback

• information a system uses to monitor the input, process, and outpu
• "Thermometer monitors the temperature"