The impact of new and emerging technologies when developing design solutions

Question 1

Bespoke

Answer 1

One-off production is when only one product is made at a time. Every product is different so it is labour intensive. Products may be made by hand or a combination of hand and machine methods.

Question 2

Batch production

Answer 2

A finite number
Batch production is when a small quantity of identical products are made. Batch production may also be labour intensive, but jigs and templates are used to aid production. Batches of the product can be made as often as required. The machines can be easily changed to produce a batch of a different product.

Question 3

Mass production

Answer 3

A large number of products are made in a production line
Mass production is when hundreds of identical products are made, usually on a production line. Mass production often involves the assembly of a number of sub-assemblies of individual components. Parts may be bought from other companies. There is usually some automation of tasks (eg by using Computer Numerical Control machines) and this enables a smaller number of workers to output more products.

Question 4

Continuous production

Answer 4

Continuous flow production is when many thousands of identical products are made. The difference between this and mass production is that the production line is kept running 24 hours a day, seven days a week to maximise production and eliminate the extra costs of starting and stopping the production process. The process is highly automated and few workers are required.

Question 5

What are the downsides of new technology

Answer 5

• Internet search engines bring the benefits of access to all sorts of information, but people can become addicted to
• online shopping impacts on our environment by resulting in increased use of fuel (can be argued against)
• unemployment

Question 6

What is also affected in the production?

Answer 6

The environment

Question 7

How can you save energy resources?

Answer 7

Make decisions on whether products are good for the environment

Question 8

Disruptive technology

Answer 8

Displaces/ challenges existing technology

Question 9

Examples of disruptive technology

Answer 9

Additive technology
- 3D Design
- stereo lithography (pool of liquid resin, laser above that is controlled by computer, and as it hits the resin it hardens and then can be built up in layers
- laser sintering (same concept but hardens powder rather that liquid resin)
Another example is Internet of things (electronic devices communicating without human input - whether it can help a product or not as if you find a fault in the product at a stage too late)

Virtual reality

Question 10

Internet if things

Answer 10

electronic devices communicating without human im out

Question 11

Advantages of naet

Answer 11

• flexibility of manufacturer (changing from one piece of technology to another using the same product easily)
• can produce more complex designs
• digital modelling can reduce mistakes (can look at it from different perspectives instead of producing prototypes)
• reducing tome to market (modelling and prototyping can be made digitally)
• improved quality
• reduce materials and resource as you can use a 3D printer to hollow the product out

Question 12

The maker movement

Answer 12

3D printers are affordable so people can have them at home so someone could easily design a software for a produce
Internet can be used to share ideas, sell products and get funding
Anyone can make products at home cheaper, affordable, ease