Areas of Technology
Our technological world is composed of many things. Computers, cars, buildings, clocks, chairs, pencils, and cameras are just a few examples. But, all of technology can be categorized into five different areas. Every type of technology can be put into one of these following areas...
1. Communication
2. Transportation
3. Manufacturing
4. Construction
5. Biotechnology
Transportation
Transportation is the process of moving people or goods from one place to another. There are many different modes and means of transportation. A mode of transportation is the type of transportation, while a means of transportation is the technology being used to transport.
Modes Means
Air Blimp, glider, plane
Land Car, train, skateboard
Water Boat, raft, submarine
Space Space shuttle, rocket
Biotechnology
Biotechnology is any type of technology that relates to living things. Biotechnologies have both positive and negative affects on many different things.
Biotechnology examples
Pesticides, stethescope, cloning, medicines, x-ray
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the process of creating a product that is used elsewhere. Manufacturing commonly takes place in a building called a factory.
Some examples of manufactured products would be: cars, computers, candy, toys, cell phones, video games, clothing, and bikes.
There are two different types of production methods: Craft and Mass...
Craft production means making a single product at one time. The person make the product begins and ends making it before moving on to making another. Some examples of craft produced items would be sculptures, paintings, pottery, or some hand-crafted jewelry.
Mass production means making many items at one time. This is when a factory is often used. The use of the assembly line greatly innovated mass production.
The assembly line was first invented in 1901 by a man named Eli Olds (Oldsmobile). Using this system, one person would work on one part of a product and then move on to the next. So, the person would move to the product. But, the assembly line as we know it today was innovated into the moving assembly line. This brought the product to the person with the use of conveyor belts and lifts. This newer system was invented by Henry Ford (Ford Motor Company) in 1913. Therefore, the assembly line method was initally used in the automobile industry.
Construction
Construction is the process of creating a product that remains on site. You can relate this to the phrase "construction site." Some examples of constructed structures would be houses, bridges, towers, schools, tunnels, dams, in-ground pools, roads, and boardwalks.
Many structures that have been constructed are famous such as the Tower of Pisa (not Pizza!), the Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall of China, and the White House.
There are several things that need to be taken into consideration before constructing a structure such as time, cost, materials, land usage, size, weight, load, and natural forces acting upon the structure.
Communication
Communication is the process of sending, receiving, and responding to messages. Communicaiton works in the form of a loop that contains the following...
1. Sender - sends the message.
2. Message - information that is to be communicated.
3. Receiver - one that receives the message.
4. Feedback - lets the sender know that the message has been received.
A mode of communication is the type of communication, while the mean of communication is the technology being used to communicate.
Mode Means
Sight Television, newspaper
Sound Radio, television
Written language E-mail, typewriter,
pencil
Music iPod, piano
Listening Hearing-aide,
headphones
