topic 6- effects of technological developments Flashcards
what is mass production and what has it resulted in
the large scale, highly mechanised industrial production of products
resulted in development of a consumer society where the majority of the population are eager to own an ever expanding range of goods
when did the changes in manufacturing first begin and why did this change things
- Industrial Revolution in the late 18th century and early 19th century
- James watts development of the steam engine brought about massive changes
- prior to this only well off people could afford products made by craft workers
- machinery and industrialisation meant more affordable products produced large scale
- towns and cities developed and growth of design and manufacturing sector
what were the 20th century developments in mass production
- division of labour used to set up organised manufacturing systems where workers carry out a single process in turn
- facilitates manufacturing products in large quantities
- mass consumerism blossomed in 1930s- publics desire for art deco products
- advertising packaging and marketing encouraged more to buy
- led to mass consumer society where companies seek to satisfy everyones wants
- growth in the teenage market- since rise of teenage rebelion in 1950s and massive array of fashion targeted towards them
what did Henry Ford do
introduced the approach of division of labour to drastically reduce car production times
why are there concerns about mass consumer society starting to be taken more seriously
due to the environmental effects becoming increasingly apparent
when did the teenage rebellion start and what did it result in
1950-60s
massive array of fashion, electronics, leisure and transport products targeted towards them
how to products target younger children
through products that satisfy eg
- own merchandise associated with popular media
- imitate aspects of ‘grown up ‘ world ‘ kids growing up younger’
- to be cool by wearing the right brands culture of cool
- pokemon ‘ gotta catch them all’ natural urge to collect
what is built in/ planned obsolescence
the deliberate design of a product to have a specific lifetime, requiring replacement on a regular basis to maximise profits
what are the different forms of obsolescence
technological-tech and functional issues eg mobile phones, unavailability of spare parts for older models, software incompatibility
postponed - not equipped with ultimate capabilities holding them back for further models eg PS3 for PS4 knowing it would be better
physical- eg lightbulbs and toothbrushes
style- fashion used to persuade consumers to replace eg football kit changes after seasons
what are the effects of mass production on employment
- resulted in a reduction of number people required to carry out task due to mechanisation
- eg pottery, weaving, car manufacturing
- manufacture of inexpensive goods by low skilled workers led to poor working conditions low wages and polluted environment
- machines replaced skilled workers
- now only low wage and low skilled operatives carrying out more mundane tasks
what is miniaturisation and how is it used in products and components
-reducing the size of products such as electronic devices by incorporating smaller more powerful components
- eg integrated circuits
- may be more affordable too
- from large batteries to much smaller
why is it important for companies to research their oversea markets carefully
- eager to be successful globally
- ensures the products are appropriate for particular countries and do not cause cultural offence
- eg- understanding the connotations of different colours used for products
- white is seen to symbolise purity in western world like in bridal dresses whereas in East Asian countries like China it is associated with mourning and death
what is offshore manufacturing
companies relocating to different, less developed countries such as India and China
where materials and labour are often cheaper
why do countries use offshore manufacturing
- modern digital communication , transport and infrastructure facilitate this
- potential for cost savings (lower wages)
- harsh conditions for workers compared to western
- some countries able to offer financial incentives to companies that relocate there
- eg Dyson in singapore and Nike in vietnam
what are the positives of global manufacturing in developing countries
- economic regeneration
- companies can sometimes pay taxes and other fees
- improvements in living standards
- physical regeneration of area
- widening countries economic base
- may encourage other tncs to also invest if successful
what are the negatives of global manufacturing in developing countries
- environmental issues for the area- air pollution and pollution
- employment issues - limited access to senior roles
- ethical issues- safety standards can be very low, no minimum wage
- dependency on this business so if they eventually move this can cause problems
- local crafts and traditions may lose value- cultural diffusion
