Technology Coursework Example

Name: Supervisor: Course: Date: First Mid-term Test 1. Technology comes from two Greek words; techne and logos. The former means art, skill and craft while the latter means expression of inward thought. In Rome “techne” was regarded as a way of creating a second nature. The term mechanical arts was adopted during medieval times as an alternative. During times of Francis Bacon and Germany technology meant practical arts. Present meaning is associated with things like computers. 2. The key elements of the incandescent light bulb system by Thomas Edison are a durable incandescent material, expulsion of air from the bulb and a filament material with high resistance. 3. A sigmoid curve is an S-shaped curve with represents progressive decline and rise. In technology, the curve is used to measure the rate of diffusion of innovation over time. Rising sigmoid curve means technology is more adopted while a decline means less diffusion and adoption. 4. Rationality is the act of being rational based on reason. Technology rationality is a concept which provided a foundation of incorporating rational decisions into technology. Max Weber used disenchantment to describe modern belief in technology being based on rational goals. 5. Technological developments follow trajectories as indicated by the history of high-speed aircraft. Advances in the craft industry were realized by different agencies. This occurred over a period of time with technology taking invariant directions. It involve progressive refinement and improvement. 6. A closed system is a system which does not interact or depend on the external environment. Disadvantages include complex construction, increased costs and instability. Its boundaries are not permeable to new information and ideas. 7. Frederick W. Taylor’s Scientific Management were supervision and standardization of tools and processes, specific planning, side rules and time saving devices, differential rate systems, routing and modern...