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AQA A-Level Design & Technology: Product Design Revision > 2.5 Major Developments in Technology > Flashcards

2.5 Major Developments in Technology Flashcards

1
Q

Early 19th century

A

Electrical batteries and circuits:

   - Basic lighting
   - Motors
   - Switches
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2
Q

Early 20th century

A

Vacuum tube (thermionic valve):

       - Early amplifiers
       - Radios
       - TV's
       - Computers
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3
Q

1940s

A

Transistor (semi-conductor):
- Portable radios and a reduction in the size of other electronic
products

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4
Q

1960s

A

‘Microelectronic’ ICs (approx 500 transistors):
- More powerful computers and highly portable devices such as
music players

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5
Q

1980s

A

Ultra large-scale ICs (ULSI) (1000000+ transistors):

- Laptops and mobile phones

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6
Q

2017

A

10,000,000,000+ transistors ICs:
- Supercomputers and prospect of even more powerful mobile
devices

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7
Q

Impact of compact cassette

A

Portability and convenience of enclosed recording tape

Cheap, easy to use and relatively reliable

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8
Q

Impact of CD

A

Reliable, wear-free storage of digital files

Portable and relatively high storage capacity

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9
Q

Impact of laser

A

Reliable, non-contact, light transmission of CD data

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10
Q

Impact of Ni-Mh batteries

A

Rechargeable, portable power

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11
Q

Impact of LCD display

A

Facilitates user display interface

Consumes less power than previous displays

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12
Q

Impact of Impact of MP3 (compressed digital audio)

A

Increased capacity of devices to store more songs

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13
Q

Impact of miniature hard drive

A

High-capacity storage capability

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14
Q

Impact of lithium batteries

A

Rechargeable power and longer battery life

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15
Q

Impact of flash (IC) storage

A

No moving parts improving reliability

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16
Q

Impact of capacitive touch screen

A

Improvements to user control and display interface

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17
Q

Impact of music streaming

A

Removable of the requirement to store files on devices

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18
Q

The Internet of things (IoT)

A

Network of multiple microelectronic devices using wi-fi and the internet.

It has many applications so far, for example:
- Smart fridges using cameras and radio frequency identification
(RFID) scanners to order products as they are used
- An automatic JiT manufacturing system that organises its own
the flow of parts and predictive maintenance of manufacturing
equipment

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19
Q

Research

A

1950s:

  - Books
  - Film photography
  - Writing letters
  - Reading paper catalogues

Now:

  - internet searches
  - Digital photography
  - PDFs
  - Use of mobile devices
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20
Q

Generating and Refining Design Ideas

A

1950s

  - Sketching 
  - Drawing boards
  - Rubbing out and re-drawing errors
  - Basic copying methods

Now:

  - CAD
  - Graphics tablets
  - Parts libraries 
  - Scanning to input data
  - 3D rendering
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21
Q

Design Collaboration and Communcation

A

1950s:

  - Face-to-face meetings
  - Landline telephone calls
  - Postal communication

Now:

  - Web conferences
  - Email texts
  - File sharing and cloud storage
  - Online collaboration
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22
Q

Modelling and Testing Ideas

A

1950s:

  - Handmade models
  - Destructive testing
  - Calculations (sometimes with calculators)

Now:

  - Virtual 3D CAD model
  - Finite elements analysis (FEA)
  - Complex computer applications
23
Q

Manufacturing

A

1950s:

  - Skilled operation of manual machines
  - Paper-based stock control
  - Manual handling

Now:

  - CNC machines 
  - Robotic devices
  - Computer monitored JiT systems
  - 3D printing
24
Q

QC (quality control) and testing

A

1950s:

  - Manual and visual inspection using verniers and gauges
  - Basic laboratory equipment

Now:

  - Automated scanning
  - Digital imaging
  - Probe measuring linked to computers
25
State two features of glulam
Layered timber and glue used to create various components - Elimination of timber defects - Easy to form parts - Good strength/weight ratio - Sustainable
26
State one applications of glulam
- Buildings - Bridges - Other structures
27
State two features of kevlar
Fibre, which is often combined with resins
28
State one application for kevlar
- Bulletproof - Puncture-resistant tyres - Aircraft construction
29
State two features of graphene (nanomaterial)
Two-dimensional form of microscopic carbon particles with a honeycomb-like atomic structure - Can be rolled into very thin and hollow tubes - Very good tensile strength, hardness, heat resistance, and electrical conductively - Lack of recyclability
30
State one application of graphene (nanomaterial)
- Medical treatment - 'Nanoelectronic' devices - Advanced coating - Battery manufacture
31
State one feature of precious metal clay (PMC)
Microscopic particles of metals such as gold and silver are bound together in a pliable medium - Easily hand-shaped before firing in an oven at 700
32
State one application of precious metal clay (PMC)
- Jewellery | - Decorative items
33
State how electrohydraulic forming work
Sheet metal is forced against a former by a shockwave from an electrical spark in a water tank
34
State two advantages of electrohydraulic forming
- Uses one-sided former - Fast - Great detail is possible - Material is evenly distributed
35
State one application of electrohydraulic forming
- Electrical appliance cases | - Car parts
36
State how advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) works
A laser fuses metal particles, layer by layer
37
State two advantages of advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
- Complex, strong and lightweight parts can be made | - Undercuts and internal voids are possible
38
State one application of advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)
- One-off prototypes and test parts
39
State how fibre injection moulding work
Injection moulding using pellets of glass or carbon fibre filled polymers such as polyamide (nylon)
40
State two advantages of fibre injection moulding
- Parts produced are very strong, stiff, lightweight, and economical to mould - Facilitates sustainability by resuing carbon-fibre waste
41
State one application of fibre injection moulding
- Lightweight parts of aerospace - Lightweight parts of automotive - Sports equipment - Medical equipment
42
State how laser beam welding work
Intense heat of a laser beam is used to join multiple pieces of metal
43
State two advantages of laser beam welding
- Faster than MIG/TIG - Narrower, deep welds are possible - Welds dissimilar metals - Minimises distortion - No finishing is needed - Welds thin sheets
44
State one application of laser beam welding
- Shipbuilding - Construction - Automotive and railway equipment
45
State how physical vapour deposition (finishing process) work
Base material is vaporised and deposits a thin layer
46
State two advantages of physical vapour deposition (finishing process)
- Abrasion resistance - Durability - Large range of materials - Uniform deposition
47
State one application of physical vapour deposition (finishing process)
- Semi-conductor components - Food packaging - Machine tool tips - Decoratives products
48
Impact of standardised file of formats (e.g. DXF and STL)
Connect CAM/CAD processes for a wide range of software and hardware
49
Impact of extensible markup language (XML)
Improved file compatibility for a growing range of different software packages
50
Impact of finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Simulate the impact of decisions being made at the design stage to make improvemts
51
Impact cloud-based (internet based) CAD/CAM software packages
Software accessibility from any computer improves designers' productivity and independence as well as facilitating growth of mass customisation
52
Impact of virtual-reality systems incorporating 3D headsets and haptic (sensory) feedback
A realistic appraisal of virtual designs in their environment and additional CAD tools
53
QC (quality control) and testing
1950s: - Manual and visual inspection using verniers and gauges - Basic laboratory equipment Now: - Automated scanning - Digital imaging - Probe measuring linked to computers

AQA A-Level Design & Technology: Product Design Revision (52 decks)

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