2. Contexts of Technology3
Contexts of Technology

3. Recall the major contexts in which technology can be viewed.
Summarize the major ages in human history.
Give examples of the positive and negative impacts technology has on society.
Explain the seven common functional areas of technology.
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4. Technological Contexts
Historical
Societal
Functional
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5. Historical Context Technology Has always been with humans
Can always be improved
Has gradually developed over time
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6. Stone Age
Up to about 3500 BC
Inventions were developed without knowledge of science
Creativity was used to develop tools from stone
Use of fire was mastered
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7. What do you think these stone tools were used for?
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8. Bronze Age About 3500 to 1000 BC Farming was developed
People began to settle in villages and cities
Metal tools replaced stone ones
Building techniques were developed
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9. Iron Age About 1000 to 500 BC Iron became primary toolmaking material
Agriculture techniques improved
Large buildings and monuments were built
Road systems were developed
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10. How does this street compare to today’s streets
How does this street compare to today’s streets? What are the reasons for the differences?
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11. Industrial Age About 1750 to late 1900s Demand for craftsmen grew
Focus shifted from farming to manufacturing
Factories increased rapidly
New transportation and communication technologies
New power sources
Division of labor was introduced
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12. How do you think everyday life changed as society moved into the Industrial Age?
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13. Information Age Late 1900s to present day Rapid changes in technology
Computer was developed
Information processing and automation became common
People started to become very connected to technology
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14. What are some inventions that have contributed to the Information Age
What are some inventions that have contributed to the Information Age? How have these changed the way we live?
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15. Societal Context Technology impacts society Society impacts technology
Societal need
Available resources
Value placed on technology
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16. What are some reasons you value technology?
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17. Scope of Society Societies have grown over time
Growth is due in large part to technology
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18. Technology and the Individual
Technology changes the way we live and view the world
Increasing demand for new technology
Different views on:
Communication
Exchange of information
Education
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19. How have cell phones and the Internet changed people’s expectations about information?
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20. Technology and Society
First World countries
Industrialized
Have resources and desire for technology
Third World countries
Technologically delayed
Poor in resources and human will
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21. Technology and Society (Cont.)
Technology, by itself, is neither good nor bad
Depends on how it is used
Choices result in desirable or undesirable outcomes
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22. Green Technology
Goal is to create new tools and products to meet people’s needs without taxing our environment
Focuses on repairing damage already done to environment from creation and use of older technologies
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23. What impacts has globalization had on technological development?
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24. Functional Context Technology is developed for specific uses
Common functional areas for technology
Agricultural technology
Communication and information technology
Construction technology
Energy and power technology
Manufacturing technology
Medical technology
Transportation technology
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25. Agricultural Technology
Planting, growing, and harvesting crops
Raising livestock
Producing technological products using living organisms
Examples:
Farming
Fishing
Biotechnology
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26. Communication and Information Technology
Gathering and processing information
Sharing ideas
Examples:
Radios
Televisions
Computers
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27. Construction Technology
Erecting structures
Building civil works
Examples:
Buildings
Roadways
Power transmission lines
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28. Energy and Power Technology
Converting, transmitting, and using energy
Providing power, heat, light, and sound
Examples:
Electricity
Heating
Water power
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29. Manufacturing Technology
Finding and extracting natural resources
Converting resources into materials
Converting materials into products
Examples:
Mining
Steelmaking
Factory work
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30. Medical Technology Promoting health Curing illnesses
Studying the human body
Examples:
Prosthetics
Vaccinations
Illness prevention
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31. Transportation Technology
Moving people
Moving cargo
Examples:
Vehicles
Terminals
Pipelines
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32. Construction Managers
Plan and coordinate construction work
Manage people, materials, equipment, budgets, and schedules
Work at company office or construction site
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33. Construction Managers (Cont.)
Need prior experience as construction workers, supervisors, or owners of contracting firms
Need strong background in math, science, computers, building practices, and management
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34. What are the three major contexts in which technology can be viewed?
Historical context, societal context, and functional context
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35. Name the major ages in human history, in chronological order.
Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age, Industrial Age, and Information Age
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36. What are two negative impacts technology has on society?
Possible answers include: The potential for destruction, environmental problems, a decrease in human interactions
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37. Identify the seven common functional areas of technology.
Agricultural technology, communication and information technology, construction technology, energy and power technology, manufacturing technology, medical technology, and transportation technology
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38. Agricultural technology
Developing and using devices and systems to plant, grow, and harvest crops. This technology also includes raising livestock for food and other useful products.
Bronze Age
The stage in human history that took place after the Stone Age.
Communication and information technology
Developing and using devices and systems to gather, process, and share information and ideas.
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39. Construction technology
Using systems and processes to erect structures on the sites where the structures will be used.
Energy and power technology
Developing and using systems and processes to convert, transmit, and use energy.
First World country
A region that has resources and a desire for technology.
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40. Industrial Age Information Age Iron Age
A period in which most Western countries changed from rural to urban, as new machines and sources of power were developed to support the industry of the time.
Information Age
The period of time in which technology changed rapidly.
Iron Age
The period from 1000 to 500 BC.
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41. Manufacturing technology
Developing and using systems and processes to convert materials into products in a factory.
Medical technology
Developing and using devices and systems promoting health and curing illnesses.
Stone Age
The period of time up to 3500 BC, when stones were the main material for making tools.
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42. Transportation technology
Third World country
A region where technological advancement is slow, due to poor resources and an absence of human will.
Transportation technology
Developing and using devices and systems to move people and cargo from an origin point to a destination.
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