Major Developments In Technology Flashcards by Will Hart

Early 19th century

Electrical batteries and circuits

Basic lighting

Motors

Switches

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Early 20th century

Vacuum tube (thermionic valve)

Early amplifiers

Radios

TV’s

Computers

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1940s

Transistor (semi-conductor)

Portable radios and a reduction in the size of other electronic products

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1960s

‘Microelectronic’ ICs approx 500 transistors

More powerful computers and highly portable devices such as music players

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1980s

Ultra large-scale ICs (ULSI)

1000000+ transistors

Laptops and mobile phones

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2017

10,000,000,000+ transistors ICs

Supercomputers and prospect of even more powerful mobile devices

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Impact of compact cassette

Portability and convenience of enclosed recording tape

Cheap, easy to use and relatively reliable

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Impact of CD

Reliable, wear-free storage of digital files

Portable and relatively high storage capacity

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Impact of laser

Reliable, non-contact, light transmission of CD data

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Impact Ni-Mh batteries

Rechargeable, portable power

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LCD display

Facilitates user display interface

Consumes less power than previous displays

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Impact of MP3 (compressed digital audio)

Increased capacity of devices to store more songs

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Miniature hard drive

High-capacity storage capability

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Impact of lithium batteries

Rechargeable power and longer battery life

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Flash (IC) storage

No moving parts improving reliability

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Capacitive touch screen

Improvements to user control and display interface

Music streaming

Removal of the requirement to store files on devices

The Internet of things (IoT)

The networking of multiple microelectronic devices using wi-fi and the Internet

Many applications:

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 flow of parts and predictive maintenance of manufacturing equipment

Research

1950s - Books, film photography, reading paper catalogues

Now - Internet searches, digital photography and mobile devices

Generating and refining design ideas

1950s - Sketching, drawing boards, rubbing out and re-drawing, basic copying methods

Now - CAD, graphics tablets m, parts libraries, scanning to input data, 3D rendering

Design collaboration and communication

1950s - Face-to-face meetings, landline telephone calls, postal communication

Now - web conferences, email, texts, file sharing and cloud storage, online collaboration

Modelling and testing ideas

1950s - handmade models, destructive testing, calculations

Now - virtual 3D CAD models, finite element analysis, complex computer applications

Manufacturing

1950s - skilled operation of manual machines, paper-based stock control, manual handling

Now - CNC machines, robotic devices, computer monitored JIT systems, 3D printing

Glulam

Layered timber and glue used to create various components

Elimination of timber defects
Easy to form parts
Good strength to weight ratio
Sustainable

Uses buildings, bridges and other structures

Kevlar

Interwoven fibres which are often combined with resins Exceptional toughness and tensile strength combined with light weight Temperature resistant Uses: Bulletproof vests Puncture-resistant tyres Aircraft construction

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 conductivity Lack of recyclability Uses: Medical treatments Nanoelectronic devices Advanced coatings Battery manufacture

Precious metal clay (PMC)

Microscopic particles of metals such as gold and silver bound together in a pliable material Easily hand shaped before firing in an oven at 700 degrees Uses: Jewellery Decorative items

Electro hydraulic forming

Sheet metal is forced against a former from a shockwave from an electrical spark in a water tank Uses one-sided former Fast Great detail is possible Material is evenly distributed Uses: Electrical appliance cases Car parts

Advanced 3D printing of metals using direct metal laser sintering (DMLS)

A laser fuses metal particles layer by layer Complex strong and lightweight parts can be made Undercuts and internal voids are possible Uses - one-off prototypes and test parts

Fibre injection moulding

Injection moulding using pellets of glass or carbon fibre filled polymers such as polyamide (nylon) Parts produced are very strong, stiff, lightweight and economical to mould Facilitates sustainability by reusing carbon-fibre waste Uses - lightweight parts for: Aerospace Automotive Sports equipment Medical equipment

Laser beam welding

Intense heat of a laser beam is used to join multiple pieces of metal ``` Faster than MIG/TIG Narrower, deep welds possible Welds dissimilar metals Minimises distortion No finishing needed Welds thin sheets ``` Uses: Shipbuilding Construction Automotive and railway equipment

Physical vapour deposition (finishing process)

Base material is vaporised and deposits a thin layer Abrasion resistance Durability Large range of materials Uniform deposition Uses: Semi-conductors Food packaging Machine tool tips

Standardised file formats (e.g. DXF and STL)

Connect CAD CAM processes for a wide range of software and hardware Easy transfer of design and manufacturing files

Extensible markup language (XML)

Improved file compatibility for a growing range of different software packages XML is a programming language XML files can be opened on a large range of software

Finite element analysis (FEA) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD)

Simulate the impact of decisions being made at the design stage to make improvements Saves time and money for physical testing

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

Virtual-reality systems incorporating 3D headsets and haptic (sensory) feedback

Realistic appraisal of virtual designs in their environment and additional CAD tools