GCSE Design and Technology Edexcel

This subject is broken down into 65 topics in 7 modules:

  1. Core Content 17 topics
  2. Metals 8 topics
  3. Papers and Boards 8 topics
  4. Polymers 8 topics
  5. Systems 8 topics
  6. Textiles 8 topics
  7. Timbers 8 topics
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  • 7
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  • 65
    topics
  • 23,475
    words of revision content
  • 3+
    hours of audio lessons

This page was last modified on 28 September 2024.

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Design and Technology

Core Content

The Impact of New and Emerging Technologies

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The Impact of New and Emerging Technologies

The Impact of New and Emerging Technologies

Understanding New and Emerging Technologies

  • New and emerging technologies are recent or developing technological advancements.
  • The process of development and innovation is meaningfully shaped by cultural, economic, political, and societal elements.
  • This area includes developments in fields like robotics, nanotechnology, AI (Artificial Intelligence), and biometrics.

The Impact on Industrial Practices

  • New technologies can increase efficiency in manufacturing and production: for example, through automation and robotics.
  • They can also transform business models: for example, by enabling just-in-time manufacturing or creating entirely new product categories.
  • Digital manufacturing and rapid prototyping enable quicker and often cheaper production of custom or short-run items.
  • CAD (Computer Aided Design) and CAM (Computer Aided Manufacturing) technologies drastically speed up the design and manufacturing process.

The Impact on Society

  • Advances in technology affect society and culture in various ways.
  • They can influence lifestyle choices, affect employment, and contribute to the evolution of societal norms and expectations.
  • Such impacts include increased convenience, changes in communication styles, effects on health, and ethical controversies.
  • Technology can also provide solutions to societal challenges, such as those relating to health, transport, and climate change.

Environmental Impacts

  • New and emerging technologies can both help and harm the environment.
  • They can offer potential solutions to ecological problems, such as through renewables or technology for cleaner industrial processes.
  • On the other hand, irresponsible usage or disposal can lead to environmental damage such as e-waste pollution.
  • Emerging technologies also demand new types of resources, influencing resource extraction and potential scarcity issues.

The Role of Legislation

  • Legislation plays a vital role in appropriately regulating the use and impact of new technologies.
  • This regulation can affect product specifications, manufacturing practices, usage, and disposal.
  • International standards for technological developments maintain consistency and foster global collaboration.
  • Legislation also frames ethical debates concerning technology and can enforce protections for environmental and human health.

The Importance of Responsible Design and Manufacture

  • Designers and manufacturers have a responsibility to consider the societal and environmental impact of their products.
  • This means considering the entire product lifecycle, from resource extraction to disposal.
  • Methods like Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) can help understand a product's total environmental footprint.
  • Sustainable and ethical design and manufacturing practices are becoming increasingly important as consumers become more conscious of these issues.

Course material for Design and Technology, module Core Content, topic The Impact of New and Emerging Technologies

Design and Technology

Polymers

Design Contexts

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Design Contexts

Key Properties of Polymers

  • Polymers are large molecules made up of repeating subunits known as monomers.
  • They have a wide range of properties, including strength, flexibility, resistance to heat and chemicals, which make them suitable for a huge number of applications.
  • Some polymers can be thermoset, meaning they can be moulded once and then permanently hold that shape, while others may be thermoplastic, which can be reshaped multiple times.

Types of Polymers and Their Uses

  • Polypropylene is tough, flexible, and resistance to fatigue, making it useful for living hinge applications.
  • Polystyrene is easy to mould and has high clarity, hence is used in packaging and model making.
  • Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is strong, durable and flame resistant, making it suitable for pipes, signs and clothing.
  • Polylactic acid (PLA) is biodegradable and thus used in eco-friendly applications like bio-plastic packaging.

Moulding Processes

  • Injection moulding: It involves melting plastic granules and injecting them into a pre-designed mould.
  • Blow moulding: This process is used to produce hollow plastic parts, such as bottles.
  • Extrusion: It is used to produce long plastic profiles or tubes.
  • Rotational moulding: This method is used to produce hollow, seamless products with complex shapes and sizes.

Effects of Polymers on Environment

  • While polymers have many benefits, they are derived from non-renewable fossil fuels, so their production contributes to the depletion of these resources.
  • Most polymers are not biodegradable, meaning they persist in the environment for hundreds or thousands of years after disposal, causing pollution.
  • Some types of polymers can release toxic substances upon degradation, presenting risks to wildlife and human health.
  • However, the development of bioplastics and methods of recycling plastics help mitigate these environmental impacts.

Course material for Design and Technology, module Polymers, topic Design Contexts

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