1. Table of Contents Understanding Technology Technology Design Skills
Technology and Society

2. How Does Technology Relate to Science?
- Understanding Technology
How Does Technology Relate to Science?
Science is the study of the natural world to understand how it functions. Technology, on the other hand, changes, or modifies, the natural world to meet human needs or to solve problems. For example, understanding the physics of light (science) led to the development of optical fibers and endoscopes (technology).

3. How Technology Progresses
- Understanding Technology
How Technology Progresses
Technology, such as writing or word-processing technology, is always changing. Technology progresses as people’s knowledge increases and as new needs can be satisfied.

4. Previewing Visuals - Understanding Technology
When you preview, you look ahead at the material to be read. Preview the figure Science and Technology. Then write two questions you have about the diagram in a graphic organizer like the one below. As you read, answer your questions.
Science and Technology
Q. What does technology have to do with science?
A. Advances in technology contribute to advances in science.
Q. How does science affect technology?
A. Advances in science contribute to advances in technology.

5. Click the SciLinks button for links on technology.
- Understanding Technology
Links on Technology
Click the SciLinks button for links on technology.

6. End of Section: Understanding Technology

7. Identifying a Need - Technology Design Skills
When engineers identify a need, they clearly define the problem they are trying to solve.

8. Researching the Problem
- Technology Design Skills
Researching the Problem
After defining a problem, engineers need to research it fully. When engineers research a problem, they gather information that will help them in their tasks.

9. Designing a Solution - Technology Design Skills
Brainstorming leads to several possible design solutions. Sketching and modeling help engineers visualize different designs.

10. Designing a Solution - Technology Design Skills
In choosing the best design, engineers must evaluate constraints and make trade-offs. Engineers sometimes have to repeat one or more steps.

11. Building a Prototype - Technology Design Skills
Prototypes are used to test the operation of a product, including how well it works, how long it lasts, and how safe it is to use.

12. Troubleshooting and Redesigning
- Technology Design Skills
Troubleshooting and Redesigning
The next stage in the design process is to identify the causes of any problems and to re-design the product to address the problems.

13. Communicating the Solution
- Technology Design Skills
Communicating the Solution
Engineers must communicate to consumers how a product meets their needs. They must also communicate with those involved in bringing the product to consumers.

14. Patents - Technology Design Skills
A patent is a legal document issued by a government that gives the inventor exclusive rights to make, use, or sell the invention for a limited time.

15. The Technology Design Process
- Technology Design Skills
Sequencing
Sequence is the order in which a series of events occurs. As you read, make a flowchart that shows the steps in the technology design process. Put the steps of the process in separate boxes in the flowchart in the order in which they typically occur.
The Technology Design Process
Identify the need.
Research the problem.
Design a solution.
Build a prototype.
Troubleshoot and redesign.
Communicate the solution.

16. End of Section: Technology Design Skills

17. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society
The graph shows the percentage of workers who worked on farms between the years 1860 and Use the graph to answer the following questions.

18. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Reading Graphs:
What factor is plotted on the horizontal axis?
Year, from 1860 to 2000

19. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Reading Graphs:
What factor is plotted on the vertical axis?
Percentage of total workers in the United States who are farm workers

20. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Interpreting Data:
Of the years shown on the graph, in which year was the percentage of farm workers highest?
1860

21. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Interpreting Data:
In which year was the percentage lowest?
2000

22. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Calculating:
By how much did the percentage of farm workers change between 1860 and 2000?
It decreased from about 45 percent to about 2 percent, or a reduction of about 43 percent of the total workforce.

23. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Drawing Conclusions:
What trend does the graph show?
The percentage of farm workers in the total workforce of the United States has declined steadily from 1860 to 2000.

24. Working on the Farm - Technology and Society Inferring:
Based on what you know about technological advances, how would you explain the trend shown in the graph?
The progress of technology, including the advance of tractors and other machinery, reduced significantly the need for workers on farms over the last 150 years.

25. Analyzing Risks and Benefits
- Technology and Society
Analyzing Risks and Benefits
Should you use headphones? Evaluating the risks and benefits can help you decide.

26. Relating Cause and Effect
- Technology and Society
Relating Cause and Effect
As you read, identify one positive and one negative effect of each technology discussed in this section. Write the information in a graphic organizer like the one below.
Cause
Effects
Positive effect: can plow more land
Positive effect: workers can do more
Positive effect: protects crops
Positive effect: saves lives
Positive effect: greater production
Invention of air bags
Invention of computers
Invention of steam-powered looms
Invention of tractors
Pesticide application
Negative effect: harmful to plants and animals
Negative effect: quickens pace of life
Negative effect: can cause injury or death
Negative effect: loss of farm jobs
Negative effect: loss of jobs

27. Links on Technology and Society
Click the SciLinks button for links on technology and society.

28. End of Section: Technology and Society

29. Graphic Organizer Science Technology Study of the natural world
Changing the natural world
Rely on each other
To understand how it functions
To meet human needs and solve problems

30. End of Section: Graphic Organizer