Unit 6
Work sheet 6
Technical development
What is meant by technical requirements?
(= technical needs and specifications).
Do task 1
Needs analysis (also called requirement
analysis / gap analysis) is finding
out what the requirements are for a new
project by looking at all the factors that
are involved and how they will interact
Budget = how much money is available,
for example the budget for designing,
building and testing a prototype for a new
high-speed train
Capacity = how much something needs to
produce or carry, for example how
much power an electrical circuit must be
able to carry
Dimensions = size, for example the
diameter of the wheels of a mountain bike
1
Layout = the overall shape of something
and the positions of different parts
relative to one another, for example the
layout of the main components of a car
engine
Looks = what something looks like from
an aesthetic point of view, for example
the look of a car in terms of the shape of
its bodywork
Performance = similar to capacity, for
example how much power a generator
needs to produce
Regulations = laws and standards that a
design must comply with, for example
safety regulations and quality standards
Timescale = how much time is available,
for example the schedule for building a
new airport
What is meant by simulator?
(= a piece of equipment that is designed
to represent real conditions).
2
Give some examples of types of simulator,
for example flight simulators used for
pilot training or computer games which
simulate race driving.
Give examples of simulators you’ve seen
or tried which are especially realistic.
Extension activity: more vocabulary
Look at the meaning of the following
terms.
dynamic = related to movement
dynamics = the study of the forces acting
in moving mechanisms
statics = the study of structures and
assemblies that remain still
3
engine thrust = pushing force generated
by the engine
atmospheric turbulence = irregular air
currents in the atmosphere
G-force = force of acceleration or
deceleration acting on a body – 1G is
equivalent to the acceleration generated
by the force of gravity
magnitude = size
prototype = experimental device/vehicle
built for the purposes of testing
logistics = handling and transporting
plinth = base
slings = flat straps which can be attached
to crane hooks and placed under
objects in order to lift them
4
low-loader = truck with a low, flat trailer,
used for transporting large heavy
vehicles, especially construction plant
stonemason = person who carves stone
Do tasks 2,3 & 4 at home.
Do task 5
Do task 6a
Answers
1 It’s being carved from a block of
sandstone.
2 He’s overseeing the logistics of the
project.
3 On a stone plinth
4 How to stop the slings from getting
trapped beneath the statue, so they can
be withdrawn, after the statue has been
lowered onto the plinth by crane
5
Assessing feasibility
Do task 8a
Feasibility means the possibility of
doing something.
Do task 8b
Describing improvements and
redesigns
What is meant by improvement?
(= making things better)
What is meant by redesign
(= designing again in order to improve
or change a design).
What factors drive companies, and
their employees, to improve products?
What factors influence how products
are improved?
6
Do task 11
Suggested answers
Better-quality materials, for example
making a tool from stainless steel
instead of mild steel to prevent
corrosion.
Lower unit cost, for example using a
single-piece component instead of one
that needs to be assembled from
several parts, to make it faster to
produce.
Make life easier for user, for example
designing a simpler control panel
that’s quicker and easier to use, or
maintenance-free components such
as bearings that don’t need
lubricating regularly.
Examples of other points that could
be added:
make products function more
effectively, make them safer, make
them last longer, make them more
robust (stronger)
7
Do task 12 a
Suggested answers
cables/connections: Improve the user
interface by making cables easier to
connect and disconnect; reduce
environmental impact by making
cables only from recyclable materials.
case: Improve aesthetics by offering a
range of colors; make manufacturing
easier by making the case from a
smaller number of components.
ink/toner cartridges: Improve the user
interface by making cartridges easier
to remove and replace; consumables –
make cartridges bigger so they last
longer and need to be replaced less
often.
paper: Improve reliability by refining
mechanisms to help prevent paper
blockages; improve output speed by
making the paper flow faster.
8
power: Reduce environmental impact
by having the printer switch off
automatically when not in use.
software: Improve the user interface
by making the software easier to use.
Do task 12b, 12c at home
Do task 12 d
Answers
2 invent again
3 improve the details
4 improve overall
5 think again
6 stay (the same)
Do task 13a
Answers
The first mechanical mouse was
improved by refining its shape: by
adding an additional button and a
wheel to the top and by revamping the
wheel mechanism under the mouse.
The mechanism was redesigned to use
a ball instead of wheels, although a
wheel mechanism was still used
inside the mouse; as the ball rolled, it
caused the wheels to turn.
9
For the optical mouse, the designers
completely rethought the underside of
the mouse. Instead of using a ball,
they used optical sensors. They also
redesigned the connection between
the mouse and the computer, making
it wireless instead of having a wire.
For the touchpad, the designers went
back to the drawing board and
invented a new system using a
sensitive surface.
Do task 13b
Do task 13c
Extension activity: improvements
Think of a product or installation
which could be redesigned and to
answer the following questions in
pairs.
How significantly could it be
improved?
What aspects could be redesigned?
What aspects do not require much
improvement?
10
