Unit 1: Technological Inventions and Innovations

Foundations of Technology

Lesson 2: An Evolutionary Process

An Evolutionary Process

Objectives

Students learn to:

• Interpret charts and graphs that illustrate the rapidly increasing rate of technological development and diffusion.

• Approximate and interpret rate of change from graphical and numerical data.

Objectives

• Support the statement that most technological development has been evolutionary, the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention, through an electronic presentation.

• Present the evolutionary history of a technological device, specifically mentioning the original inventions and the series of refinements to that invention that led up to the given technological device.

Vocabulary

• Technological Development: an evolutionary process that is the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention.

• Patent: a property right granted by the government; allows the inventor to prohibit others from making, using, or selling his or her idea.

Vocabulary

• Invention: developing a new/useful process, tool, machine, etc. that did not exist previously.

• Innovation: introducing new ideas/methods to an established process, tool, machine, etc. to produce marketable products.

The Big Idea

Big Idea:

• Inventions and innovations are the result of an evolutionary process through a series of improvements and refinements.

Technology Development

Most technological development has been evolutionary, the result of a series of refinements to a basic invention.

Invention – developing a new/useful process, tool, machine, etc., that did not exist previously.

Innovation – introducing new ideas/methods to an established process, tool, machine, etc. to produce marketable products.

Patents

A patent is a property right granted by the government that allows the inventor to prohibit others from making, using, or selling their idea.

Patents are granted for a new, non-obvious and useful process, machine, article of manufacture, as well as a composition of matter or improvements to any of the above.

All inventions must be novel, non-obvious, and adequately described

Patents

In the United States, the America Invents Act of 2011, changed the way in which patent rights are assigned.

For patents filed before March 16, 2013 a first-to-invent rule was applied, meaning patents rights were granted to the first person who documents the idea and works diligently to create a working model.

Patents

In the United States, the America Invents Act of 2011, changed the way in which patent rights are assigned.

For patents filed after March 16, 2013 a first-inventor-to-file rule is used. This means that patent rights are granted to the first person who files for a patent on an idea, rather than the person who documents the idea first.

Documentation

Documenting the idea is as important as filing a patent.

A provisional patent, which establishes the file date of the patent can be made with minimal documentation.

The non-provisional patent, which starts the examination process requires extensive documentation.

Documentation should include dated sketches and explanations of how the invention operates and all pertinent information; e.g., an engineering journal.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

The Invention of the Automobile:

In 1672, Ferdinand Verbiest developed a

scale model of a steam-powered car.

In 1769, Nicolas Cugnot built a steam-powered tricycle and was widely credited with building the first full-scale self-propelled vehicle.

In 1807, Nicephore Niepce created the world’s first internal-combustion engine,which was placed on a boat.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

The Invention of the Automobile:

In 1879, Karl Benz used an internal-combustion engine to power a vehicle and was awarded a patent for the concept. He is widely credited with inventing the first modern automobile.

Between 1888 and 1893Benz manufactured about 25 vehicles.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

The Innovation of the Automobile:

In 1821, Thomas Blanchard piloted an assembly line style of manufacturing that employed interchangeable parts.

In 1902, Ransom Olds debuted a large-scale production line to manufacture affordable automobiles based on Blanchard’s work.

In 1914, Henry Ford greatly enhanced the concept of the assembly

line to what we know today.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

The Innovation of the Automobile:

Ford employed many innovative practices in the workplace:

Safety – each worker was assigned one specific task, reducing safety concerns.

Efficiency – the assembly line forced workers to keep a certain pace with repetitive motions, which increased efficiency and output.

Wages – workers were paid well.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

The Innovation of the Automobile:

As a result of Henry Ford’s work, a car could now be produced in fifteen minutes, which decreased the cost to the consumer while increasing profit for the company.

Development of automotive technology increased rapidly, as many small manufacturers began producing automotive parts such as the electric starter, drum/disc brakes, fuel injection systems, etc.

Case Study: Invention and Innovation

Reflection:How does this example support the statement that most

technological development has been evolutionary?

What was the basic invention that has evolved into the modern automobile?

What is the future of automobile innovation?