Section A - New and emerging technologies Industry, enterprise, sustainability Flashcards
Name some jobs that a robot might do in a production line
Welding
Spray painting
Packaging
Labelling
Product inspection
Pick-and-place tasks
Assembly tasks
What do automated machines do
Automated machines are programmed to carry out a procedure multiple times
State the advantages of robots carrying out repetitive tasks in factories / automated systems
They perform tasks with high speed
They perform tasks with high precision
They produce products of a consistent high quality at a low cost because of the numbers of products they can produce quickly
Who is now carrying out repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines
Repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines are now frequently carried out by robots
What is the advantage for human operators that robots are now carrying out repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines
This relieves human operators of these monotonous and often tedious tasks
How is it possible that repettive tasks in mechanised assembly lines are now frequently carried out by robots
This is possible due to the development of computers and processors to control the robots and mechanised areas of factories
State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories
They are very expensive to set up
They require a
specialist workforce
If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly
How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised
The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.
What is crowdfunding
Crowdfunding is a method of funding a project by raising money from large numbers of people.
It uses websites to advertise products as investment opportunities, where people can choose to back a project with a financial donation if they think it will be viable.
Lots of people make small contributions, choosing to invest in
interesting ideas.
Designers can raise large amounts of money to finance their project.
Backers are often rewarded with free gifts, discounts or a pre-agreed part of any profits if the product is successful.
How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised
The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.
What is virtual marketing and retail
Virtual marketing and retail include advertising a product or service (increase brand awareness) using popular websites and social media.
It does this by getting websites or users to pass on marketing messages to other websites and users. This hugely increases the messages visibility and effect
A wide range of people can be reached.
Celebrities or influencers promote products or brands through social media posts, blogs and vlogs.
Adverts can be posted on popular sites.
Websites can complete search engines optimisation to ensure they are more visible on keyword searches.
What is a co-operative
A business owned, governed and self-managed by its workers.
Work-owners work in the business, govern it and manage it, they set production schedules and determine working conditions.
In most worker co-operatives, all shares are held by the workforce with no outside or consumer owners.
What types of co-operatives have grown out of new technologies
Tech co-operatives have grown out of new technologies
State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories
They are very expensive to set up
They require a
specialist workforce
If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly
Give some examples of people who benefit from it
Fairtrade Cotton – Cotton farmers are paid a living wage which
allows them to survive and earn enough money to feed their
families.
- Communities are often given help in setting up local amenities
such as schools, wells etc.
For people who work in banana plantations, the owners of these plantations and the local communities around, benefit from fair trade.
Define sustainability
Meeting present-day needs without compromising the needs of future generations
Finite resources are not _____
Finite resources are not sustainable
Two types of resources
Finite resource
Non-finite resource
Define finite resource
A finite resource is a resource that does not renew itself quickly enough to meet the needs of future generations.
Examples of finite resources
Coal, Oil and natural gas
Give an example of a new technology designed to extract gas and oil from shale rock
Hydraulic fracturing or fracking
What is hydraulic fracturing/fracking
A new technology designed to extract gas and oil from shale rock
Fracking has an impact on the _____
Fracking has an impact on the environment
Define non-finite resource
Non-finite resources are resources that replenish quickly enough to meet our needs
Example of non-finite resources
Water
Wood
Wool
Cotton
Renewable energy resources (solar, geothermal, wind power)
Non-finite resources are _____
Non-finite resources are sustainable
What have technological advancements allowed us to do with these renewable resources
Technological advancements have allowed us to use these renewable resources more effectively and to generate more energy from them, reducing our reliance on finite resources
How can a designer can reduce the environmental impact at each stage of the life cycle of a product
Using low-impact materials
Conserving resources by using recycled materials
Reducing material usage
Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use
Ensuring a prolonged lifetime
Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of their lifetime
What do all of these factors contribute to reducing:
Using low-impact materials
Conserving resources by using recycled materials
Reducing material usage
Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use
Ensuring a prolonged lifetime
Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of their lifetime
All these factors contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of the product
What is the ecological footprint
The ecological footprint is the impact of a person or community on the environment; the amount of land needed to supply the natural resources they use
What factors can contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of a product
Using low-impact materials
Conserving resources by using recycled materials
Reducing material usage
Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use
Ensuring a prolonged lifetime
Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of the
Define social footprint
The social footprint is the impact a company or an organisation has on people and communities
What do companies with good social footprints do
Companies have a responsibility to consider human rights and working conditions of their workforce
Companies with good social footprint take care of their workers, in terms of health and safety, workforce equality, child labour and wider social issues that affect communities in their supply chains
What is a landfill site
A landfill site is a place where waste is buried underground
What is the most common method of organised waste disposal
Landfill has been the most common of organised waste disposal
Describe the process of disposal of waste by landfill
Putting waste into the ground and burying it. Disposal of waste by landfill
State the problems of landfill sites
Landfill sites can cause pollution of the local environment such as contamination of groundwater or soil.
Decaying organic waste (on the landfill sites) generates methane gas (a greenhouse gas which is flammable and can be explosive)
Bad smell coming from the sites
Effects on local wildlife
Noise pollution - which can lead to reduced property prices
What is resource recovery
Resource recovery is a process that recovers certain disposed materials for specific use
Give examples of resource recovery
Some resources can be recycled
Some composed ans some used for energy generation
What is the impact of waste recycling- when used in resource recovery
Waste recycling reduces the use of newly created materials
What is the impact of composting
Composting and energy generation reduces landfill and gives further use to materials
Define energy generation
Energy generation is often referred to as energy recovery
What is incineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves burning waste materials
Benefits of incineration as a waste treatment process
Incineration reduces the mass of waste by up to 85 per cent, therefore significantly reducing the volume of landfill
Disadvantages of performing incineration as a waste treatment process
Pollutants in the gas emissions from incinerators, including large amounts carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) are being discharged into the atmosphere
What is fair trade
Fair trade is a movement that aims to achieve fair and better trading conditions and opportunities that promote sustainability for developing countries
The need for fair trade & what work it does: To ensure that workers in developing countries get a fair
price for their work and products.
Improving working conditions for workers and their families in
developing countries.
Improving education and access to social care in developing
countries
How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised
The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.
State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories
They are very expensive to set up
They require a
specialist workforce
If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly
