1. PowerPoint Presentations for
Technology
By R. Thomas Wright
The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc.
Tinley Park, Illinois
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2. Technological System Components
Section 2
Technological System Components
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3. Inputs to Technological Systems
Chapter 4
Inputs to Technological Systems
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4. Learning Objectives Identify inputs to technological systems.
Describe the types of skills and knowledge various groups of people bring to technological systems.
Identify the types of tools and machines used as inputs to technological systems.
Describe the types and properties of materials that are inputs to technological systems.
Identify the types of information that are inputs to technological systems.
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5. Learning Objectives
Identify the major types and sources of energy as inputs in technological systems.
List the sources of finances that are used as inputs to technological systems.
Explain the importance of time with regard to technological systems.
Explain why we need to use and conserve intelligently the resources that are inputs to technological systems.
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6. Inputs Inputs can be grouped into seven major categories: People.
Tools and machines.
Materials.
Information.
Energy.
Finances.
Time.
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7. People Scientists develop knowledge.
People design, operate, and use technological systems.
Engineers design.
Production workers, technicians, mechanics, entrepreneurs, managers, and support staff operate.
Consumers are the users of the systems.
(Northern Telecom)
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8. Creativity
Creativity is a key part to production and technology in general.
A renowned example of a creative person is Art Fry, the developer of Post-it® notes.
3M has continued to make many useful and innovative products due to its creative production teams.
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9. Tools
Every technology uses a common set of hand tools to produce, service, and maintain products and equipment.
Specifically used for measuring, cutting, drilling, gripping, pounding, and polishing tools.
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10. Machines
Machines can be simple or complex, with complex machines being comprised of simple machines.
Simple machines operate on two basic principles:
The principle of the lever:
Machines such as the lever, wheel and axle, and pulley.
The principle of the inclined plane:
Machine such as the inclined plane, wedge, and the screw.
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11. Lever Mechanisms
A lever has a lever arm that rests and turns on a fulcrum.
Three categories:
First-class levers like a pry bar.
Second-class levers like a wheelbarrow.
Third-class levers are like a person moving dirt with a shovel.
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12. Lever Usage
Like all machines, either force multiplier or distance multiplier.
Both wheel and axles and pulleys, second-class levers, can be used as force or distance multipliers.
Pulleys can also change direction of force.
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13. Inclined Plane Mechanisms
Add a link from “inclined plane,” “wedge,” and “screw” to key terms.
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14. Discussion What are some simple machines you use daily?
See how machines work (
Elements of Machines (
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15. Classification of Materials
Can we enlarge this image? Links for “natural materials,” “synthetic materials,” “composite materials,” “organic materials,” “exhaustible materials,” “genetic materials,” gases,” “liquids,” and “solids.” Could we possibly also create a link for metal and wood to a slide on solids (slide 13)?
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16. Classification of Materials
Materials can be classified as natural, synthetic, or composite; organic or inorganic; exhaustible or genetic; gas, liquid, or solid.
Solids can then be subdivided into metals, plastics, ceramics, or composites.
Grouping the materials helps when choosing what materials to use for what purpose.
All materials have different but similar properties.
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17. Solids
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18. Properties of Materials
Seven properties:
Physical: size, shape, density, moisture content, and porosity.
Mechanical: strength, plasticity, elasticity, ductility, and hardness.
Chemical: chemical activity and corrosion resistance.
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19. Properties of Materials
Seven properties (cont’d):
Thermal: thermal conductivity, thermal shock resistance, and thermal expansion.
Electrical and magnetic: electrical conductivity and magnetic permeability.
Acoustical: acoustical transmission and acoustical reflectivity.
Optical: color, optical transmission, and optical reflectivity.
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20. Information Facts and figures we call data can be organized.
When data is organized, it is then called information.
Information includes scientific and technological information, as well as humanities.
Knowledge is best described as learning and applying information.
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21. Types of Energy
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22. Sources of Energy Sources of energy are grouped in terms of supply.
The sun is inexhaustible energy.
Renewable energy would be living matter, like trees.
Coal, petroleum, and natural gas are all sources of exhaustible energy.
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23. Finances
Money to develop and operate technological systems can be obtained in two ways:
Equity financing:
Sole proprietorship, individually financed businesses.
Partnership, co-owned businesses.
Corporation, shares.
Debt financing:
Borrowing money.
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24. Time
Time was at first measured by the sun and then by harvesting and planting periods (months).
New technological advances measure days, hours, seconds, and nanoseconds.
(OutdoorDecor.com, National Institute of Standards and Technology Boulder Laboratories, U.S. Department of Commerce)
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25. Career Corner Construction laborers.
Perform wide range of tasks involving building and maintaining constructed works.
Requires heavy lifting.
Does not usually require experience or training.
Job Search (
Construction Careers Information (
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26. Review What are the seven inputs common to all technological systems?
People, tools and machines, materials, information, energy, finances, and time.
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27. Review
What kind of people are involved with technological advancements?
Creative scientists, engineers, production workers, managers, support staff, technicians, and consumers.
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28. Review Name the six simple machines.
Lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge, and screw.
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29. Review What are the seven properties of materials?
Physical, mechanical, chemical, thermal, electrical and magnetic, acoustical, and optical properties.
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30. Review How is information grouped?
Information is categorized by scientific, technological, or humanities information.
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31. Review What are the six major types of energy?
Chemical, electrical, thermal (heat), radiant (light), mechanical, and nuclear.
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32. Review What two sources of finance are there?
Equity or debt financing.
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33. Review Why is time important to technological advances?
We judge things on how fast they are, how much time they take. Time is essential so we don’t like to “waste” it.
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34. Review Why do we need to use our resources carefully?
Many inputs have a limited supply.
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35. Key Terms Composite materials Consumer Corporation
combinations of natural and synthetic materials that are used to create items with other desirable properties.
Consumer
a person who financially supports a technological system by spending money on products or services.
Corporation
a legal entity people form to own an operation. It is a business in which investors have purchased partial ownership in the form of shares of stock.
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36. Key Terms Creativity Data Debt financing
the ability to see a need or a way of making life easier and design systems and products to meet the need or desire.
Data
the raw, unorganized facts and figures collected by people and machines.
Debt financing
raising money by borrowing money from a financial institution or private investors.
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37. Key Terms Distance multiplier Engineer Entrepreneurs
a simple machine that increases the amount of movement applied to the work at hand.
Engineer
a person who conducts research and applies scientific and technological knowledge to the design and development of products, structures, and systems.
Entrepreneurs
people with very special talents who look beyond present practices and products and create businesses.
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38. Key Terms Equity financing Exhaustible Exhaustible materials
raising money by selling a portion of ownership in a company.
Exhaustible
capable of being entirely used up.
Exhaustible materials
materials that, once depleted, cannot be replaced by human action or nature.
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39. Key Terms First-class levers Force multiplier Fulcrum
the class of levers in which the fulcrum is between the load and the effort.
Force multiplier
a simple machine that increases the force applied to the work at hand.
Fulcrum
the support on a lever on which the lever arm rests and turns.
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40. Key Terms Gases Genetic materials Hand tools
materials that easily disperse and expand to fill any space.
Genetic materials
organic materials that have life cycles and can be regenerated. They are obtained during the normal life cycles of plants or animals.
Hand tools
simple, handheld artifacts that require human muscle power, air, or electric power to make them work.
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41. Key Terms Inclined plane Inexhaustible Information
an application of the principle that it is easier to move up a slope than a vertical surface.
Inexhaustible
unable to be entirely used up or consumed.
Information
facts and figures, called data, that have been sorted and arranged for human use. It is vital to taking an active part in society.
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42. Key Terms Inorganic materials Knowledge Lever
materials that do not come from living organisms.
Knowledge
information learned and applied to a task.
Lever
a simple machine that multiplies the force applied to it. It changes the direction of a linear force.
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43. Key Terms Lever arm Liquids Machines
a rod or bar on a lever that rests and turns on the fulcrum.
Liquids
visible, fluid materials that will not normally hold their size and shape.
Machines
artifacts that amplify the speed, amount, or direction of a force. They transmit or change the application of power, force, or motion.
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44. Key Terms Manager Mechanics Natural material
a person who organizes and directs the work of others in a business, by setting goals, structuring tasks to be completed, assigning work, and monitoring results.
Mechanics
skilled workers in service operations.
Natural material
a material that occurs naturally on earth.
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45. Key Terms Organic materials Partnership Production workers
materials that come from living organisms.
Partnership
a form of private ownership in which businesses are owned and operated by two or more people.
Production workers
people who process materials, build structures, operate transportation vehicles, service products, or produce and deliver communication products.
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46. Key Terms Pulleys Renewable
grooved wheels attached to an axle that can be used to change the direction of a force, multiply force, or multiply distance.
Renewable
capable of being used up, but replaceable with the normal life cycle of the energy source.
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47. Key Terms Scientists Screw Second-class levers
people who generally develop a basic knowledge of physics, materials science, geology, or chemistry to help create products and processes.
Screw
an inclined plane wrapped around a shaft.
Second-class levers
levers in which the load is between the effort and the fulcrum.
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48. Key Terms Sole proprietorship Solids Support staff
a business or operation owned by one person.
Solids
materials that hold their size and shape and can support loads.
Support staff
nonmanagerial workers who carry out such tasks as keeping financial records, maintaining sales documents, and developing personnel systems.
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49. Key Terms Synthetic materials Technicians Third-class levers
human-made materials.
Technicians
skilled workers in laboratories and product-testing facilities. They work closely with production workers, but do more specialized jobs.
Third-class levers
levers in which the effort is placed between the load and the fulcrum.
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50. Key Terms Tools Wedge Wheel and axle
artifacts humans use to expand their capabilities.
Wedge
a device used to split and separate materials and to grip parts.
Wheel and axle
a shaft attached to a disk.
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