Major Developments In Technology Flashcards
Early 19th century
Electrical batteries and circuits
Basic lighting
Motors
Switches
Early 20th century
Vacuum tube (thermionic valve)
Early amplifiers
Radios
TV’s
Computers
1940s
Transistor (semi-conductor)
Portable radios and a reduction in the size of other electronic products
1960s
‘Microelectronic’ ICs approx 500 transistors
More powerful computers and highly portable devices such as music players
1980s
Ultra large-scale ICs (ULSI)
1000000+ transistors
Laptops and mobile phones
2017
10,000,000,000+ transistors ICs
Supercomputers and prospect of even more powerful mobile devices
Impact of compact cassette
Portability and convenience of enclosed recording tape
Cheap, easy to use and relatively reliable
Impact of CD
Reliable, wear-free storage of digital files
Portable and relatively high storage capacity
Impact of laser
Reliable, non-contact, light transmission of CD data
Impact Ni-Mh batteries
Rechargeable, portable power
LCD display
Facilitates user display interface
Consumes less power than previous displays
Impact of MP3 (compressed digital audio)
Increased capacity of devices to store more songs
Miniature hard drive
High-capacity storage capability
Impact of lithium batteries
Rechargeable power and longer battery life
Flash (IC) storage
No moving parts improving reliability
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
