6.1: Effects of technological developments

Question 1

Mass production

Answer 1

Mass production is the large-scale, highly mechanised industrial production of products.

It has resulted in the development of a ‘consumer society’ in which the majority of the population are eager to own an ever expanding range of goods.

Question 2

The consumer society

Answer 2

Social inclination towards acquiring ever more goods and services

Question 3

Industrial revolution

Answer 3

The change from a craft based to an industrial society during the late 18th and early 19th century

Question 4

20th Century developments in mass production

Answer 4

In mass production, division of labour where workers carry out a single process in turn, is used to set up a highly organised manufacturing system

Question 5

Built in (planned) obsolescence

Answer 5

A deliberate policy to manufacture products with a specific life span

Question 6

Miniaturisation

Answer 6

Reducing the size of products such as electronic devices by incorporating components developed to be smaller but more powerful

Question 7

Timeline of technological developments for electronic products

Answer 7

Early 19th century
Development:
Electrical batteries and circuits
Examples:
Basic lighting, motors, switches, etc

Early 20th century
Development:
Vacuum tube (thermionic valve)
Examples:
Early amplifiers, radios, TVs and computers

1940s
Development:
Transistor (semi conductor)
Examples:
portable radios and a reduction in the size of other electronic products

1960s
Development:
‘Microelectronic’ ICs (approx. 500 transistors)
Examples:
More powerful computers and highly portable devices such as music players

1980s
Development:
Ultra large-scale ICs (ULSI) (1,000,00+ transistors)
Examples:
Laptops and mobile phones

2018
50,000,000,000+ transistor ICs (Xilinx, inc)
Examples:
Supercomputers and the prospect of even more powerful mobile devices

Question 8

Global marketplace

Answer 8

The international exchange of goods, services and labour.

Question 9

Multinational company

Answer 9

A business that has assets such as manufacturing or design facilities in more than one country.

Question 10

Offshore manufacturing

Answer 10

The relocation of a factory to another country, usually where materials and/or labour are cheaper.

Question 11

Developing country

Answer 11

A country with low levels of industrial and commercial activity and generally lower incomes.