Impact of Technology

Keith and his dad need to drive across town to get to a museum in a new part of the city. They have never been to this new area, and they cannot find it on an old paper map they have.

Keith's dad suggests they go buy a new paper map. Keith points out that the new map might help them today, but like the map they already have, it will also be outdated in a few years.

Keith's dad then suggests they call the museum and ask for directions, Keith replies that turn-by-turn directions would be helpful, but sometimes the person giving the directions or the person writing them down makes mistakes. He also so says they need some kind of map of the new area in case they make a wrong turn.

Keith suggests that he and his dad use technology to design a better solution to their problem. To get accurate, up-to-date maps and turn by turn directions, they should use

• a hybrid vehicle in order to save gas

• a cell phone to call the museum

• a new paper map laminated with plastic

• an online mapping program or GPS navigation system

As computer chips have been manufactured smaller and smaller in size, there has been an increase in the loss of energy as electricity "leaks" out of the tightly packed wires in the chips. What is the most likely goal of those working to improve the computer chips?

• finding a new color for the chips

• finding a way to keep the wires insulated

• finding a way to make the chips softer

• finding a way to make the wires thicker

Jack plans to test several new designs of toy cars. He brainstorms about design variables that will affect how the cars move. Which of the following could be variable to consider in his design?

• mass of cars

• size of cars

• shape of cars

• all of these

An example of an adaptive form of technology is the text telephone (TTY) which converts typed characters into tones that can be transmitted over a telephone line. Text telephones allow deaf and speech impaired individuals to communicate relatively quickly over long distances.

Adaptive products are...

• products that have been modified from their original design in order to be accessible to people with disabilities.

• products that have not gone through any type of design modification since they were invented

• products that have been modified from their original design in order to work faster and more efficiently

• products that are difficult or impossible for people with disabilities to use

Madison wants to test the boiling points of many different substances. She needs to test several substances at the same time and determine the precise temperature at which each substance boils. Which of the following would be the best way to ensure she gets the correct data?

• For each test, estimate the substance's temperature when it starts to boil by inserting a finger into the substance

• For each test, keep a digital thermometer in each substance throughout the test and record video of the entire test

• For each test, combine two or more substances so that fewer temperatures need to be measured

• For each test, record video of the entire test and estimate boiling points based on the substances' color change while playing back the video.

Ivan tried to call his grandmother Alena on her home phone last Saturday, but there was no answer. When Alena came over for dinner on Monday she asked Ivan why he never calls her. Ivan replied that he just tried on Satuday. Alena remebered that she was out shopping most of the day Saturday and said she has no way of knowing when she misses calls.

Ivan figures out a technological solution to this problem. He tells his grandmother that she needs...

• a long life phone battery

• a louder phone ring

• better phone reception

• automated voicemail

Most automobiles are powered by fossil fuels. When a fossil fuel is burned, pollutants are released into the air. Over time, this can damage the environment and may alter climates around the world. Considering the damage done to the environment, what do you think is the most likely reason people continue to use automobiles?

• people do not care bout the environment

• the use of automobiles is necessary for the running of the economy

• burning fossil fuel releases oxygen into the air and is necessary for people to breathe.

• environmental problems don't affect people in any way.

Which of the following questions is most important for a society to consider when deciding whether to use a new form of technology?

• will it be useful to other societies?

• what are the environmental, health, and economic costs and benefits of the technology?

• how long should the warranty be for products containing the technology?

• is the person who invented the technology a citizen of the society?

Photo Perfect Inc. has hired you to design their newest line of digital cameras. They want the cameras to be ultra light and small, but still able to store large numbers of images. Which of the following camera parts would not suit the design constraints of Photo Perfect's new camera line?

• A compact memory chip that stores 60 GB of information

• A highly accurate lens that shoots high def images

• An extra powerful battery that weighs 1 kg

• A microchip processor that measures 2 cm across

In the state of Tennessee, electricity customers are given the option of joining the Green Power Switch program. This program takes advantage of new forms of technology that use renewable resources in order to produce electricity. In order to join the program, customers must pay $4 more for 150kW-h of electricity.

Currently about 54,000 households in Tennessee have joined the program. What do you think is the primary motivation of the households that join the Green Power Switch Program?

• The people who have signed up for the program are scientists who could earn money should the technology prove to be successful.

• Most of the people who have signed up for the program do not understand that their participation is making their electricity bill go up.

• The income per capita in Tennessee is higher than in other states, thus people there do not mind spending extra money on cutting-edge technology

• Keeping the environment clean is more important to these households than spending a few extra dollars