Mr. Rogers - IB Design Technology Objectives
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Inv., inn. & design Design cycle    
Lesson Plan Practice Test Study Guide

Objectives

I. Invention, innovation and design

  1. Describe the 6 stages in the development of a generic technologies (automobile, electric lighting, electronic computing, etc.) develop

  • Concept Development  - The invention exists only as an idea in the mind of progressives and dreamers.

  • Demonstration of Basic Concept - Usually comes from scientific research. Prior to this point the invention or technology can only exist as an idea

  • Trailblazing  - Characterized by individual inventors or R&D groups demonstrating inventions which do not become innovations.

  • Product Development  - Characterized by highly expensive and/or poorly performing commercial products

  • Commercialization - Characterized by mass product and applied research aimed at lowering costs and improving performance. The performance/cost ratio vs. time curve takes on a sigmoidal shape.

  • Maturity - The performance/cost ratio stagnates. Sometimes the product is replaced.

  1. Describe the 4 stages of innovation

  • Developing - an idea becomes a product

  • Production - the product is manufactured

  • Marketing and Sales - customers are located and served

  • Redesign - the cycle or spiral continues

  1. Discuss various invention/innovation case studies:

  • bicycle

  • automobile

  • electric lighting

  • computers

  • wireless communication

  1. Generation invention ideas:

  • Market Pull - Problems in search of a solution
  • Technology Push - Solutions in search of a problem:
    • Demonstration of new scientific findings: Example - glowing platinum wire led to the light bulb.
    • Availability of materials or resources: example plastics, oil, wood, rubber
    1. Describe 5 reasons why inventions succeed or fail to become innovations.

    • Marketability - Potential for being sold

    • Marketing - Process of identifying and serving customers.

    • Financial Support - Investment needed for development, production, and sales.

    • Need - Ability to solve a problem or address a human need.

    • Price - manufacturing and sales costs must be low enough for product to be sold for less than the value to the customer.

    1. Describe the 4 key methods of protecting inventions and other intellectual properties.

    • Patent - utility = 20 yrs, design = 14 yrs, plant = 17 years

    • Copyright - generally creator's lifetime + 70 years, applies to creative work, created automatically but can be strengthened by using © or registering item must be defended

    • Trademark - indefinite, applies to names or symbols used for marketing or product image, created by using ™ or SM, or strengthened by registration ®, item must remain in commerce and be defended.

    • Trade Secret - possibly indefinite, applies mostly to manufacturing processes

    1. Explain what makes an object patentable.

    • not sold

    • not published

    • not obvious

    • not known or used by others

    1. Describe provisional patents and explain their purpose

    • indicated by the words patent pending

    • purpose - establish an early effective filing date

    • applicant has 12 months to file a non-provisional application

    • the 12 months not counted against the 20 year patent life.

    • NOT examined on their merits

    1. Compare lone inventor, product champion, and entrepreneur roles.

    2. Give an example of incremental design: incandescent, halogen light bulbs.

    3. Define technophile, technocautious, and technophobe and discuss why people fall in these categories.

    • 1st order effects: personal gains

    • 2nd order effects: moral and ethical, security & privacy, economic circumstances.

    1. Discuss why companies resist Innovation

    • R&D expensive

    • new innovation makes old products obsolete

    • change is always disruptive

    1. Discuss 2 corporate strategies for innovation

    • pioneering - high risk, high potential example: Sony Walkman

    • imitative- less risk but still requires major development example: Sony Walkman knockoffs

    • set the standard - Beta vs. VHS video tape

    1. Describe 2 examples where innovations have been abused (must include nuclear energy)

    2. Explain the criteria for a proactive environmental corporate policy

    • design - consideration of environment as part of design

    • life cycle analysis - energy consumption, disposal

    • tradeoffs - performance vs. environment, example Halon