Effects of Technology on Society

Edexcel – Product Design: Graphics

Effects on Society

• Mass production• High technology production– CAD/CAM– Miniturisation of products– New materials

• The global market place

Mass Production on Society

• Population explosions• Cheaper products available to the masses– Products once exclusively for the rich now

available to ordinary working people• Machines replaced people• Peoples “wants” satisfied• Lead to throw away culture

High technology production on society

• CAD/CAM– Quick turnarounds / delivery times– Consumers can do things they couldn’t do before

(eg edit photos on the web)– Flexiblity

High technology production on society

• Miniaturisation of products– Making smaller– More features– Advanced Integrated Circuits

(ICs)/microprocessors– Advanced battery technology– Advanced LCD’s

High technology production on society

• New materials– Smart glass• change of transparency when a voltage is appied

– Shape memory alloys• Remember their shape (eg glasses frames) - elasticity

– Thermochromic pigments• Change of colour due to temperature (eg mugs!)

– Smart fluid/oils/grease• Used in car suspension systems to control the

suspension

The global market place

Built in obsolescence• Technological

– Technology goes out of date too fast– Eg phones

• Postponed– When companies launch a new product but have the

technology to launch a better one– Eg PS3/PS4

• Physical– The design of a product limits its lifespan– Eg light bulbs

• Style– Fashions and trends– Eg football kits