Appendix C Technology & Design
Engineers are people who use scientific and technological knowledge to solve practical problems. To design new products, engineers usually follow the process described here, even though they may not follow these steps in the exact order.
Identify a Need
Before engineers begin designing a new product, they must first identify the need they are trying to meet. For example, suppose you are a member of a design team in a company that makes toys. Your team has identified a need: a toy boat that is inexpensive and easy to assemble.
Research the Problem
Engineers often begin by gathering information that will help them with their new design. This research may include finding articles in books, in magazines, or on the Internet. It may also include talking to other engineers who have solved similar problems. Engineers also often perform experiments related to the product they want to design.
For your toy boat, you could look at toys that are similar to the one you want to design. You might do research on the Internet. You could also test some materials to see whether they would work well in a toy boat.
Design a Solution
Research gives engineers information that helps them design a product. When engineers design new products, they usually work in teams.
Generating Ideas
Often, design teams hold brainstorming meetings in which any team member can contribute ideas. Brainstorming is a creative process in which one team member's suggestions can spark ideas in other group members. Brainstorming can lead to new approaches to solving a design problem.
Evaluating Constraints
During brainstorming, a design team will often come up with several possible designs. The team must then evaluate each one.
As part of their evaluation, engineers consider constraints. Constraints are factors that limit or restrict a product design. Physical characteristics, such as the properties of materials used to make your toy boat, are constraints. Cost and time are also constraints. If the materials in a design cost a lot, or if the design takes a long time to make, it may be impractical.
Making Trade-offs
Design teams usually need to make trade-offs. A trade-off is the acceptance of the benefits of one design aspect at the cost of another. In designing your toy boat, you will have to make trade-offs. For example, suppose one material is sturdy but not fully waterproof. Another material is more waterproof, but breakable. You may decide to give up the benefit of sturdiness in order to obtain the benefit of waterproofing.
Table of Contents
- Formulas and Equations
- Applying Formulas and Equations
- Mean, Median, and Mode
- Estimation
- Using Measurements in Calculations
- Effects of Measurement Errors
- Accuracy
- Precision
- Comparing Accuracy and Precision
- Significant Figures
- Calculating With Significant Figures
- Scientific Notation
- Calculating With Scientific Notation
- Dimensional Analysis
- Applying Dimensional Analysis