IB DT all topics

Adjustability

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles that a product is appropriate for

Alertness

The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual

Adjustability

The ability of a product to be changed in size, commonly used to increase the range of percentiles that a product is appropriate for

Alertness

The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual

Anthropometrics

The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements, particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity

Biomechanics

The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms

Clearance

The physical space between two objects

Cognitive Ergonomics

Concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning, and motor response

Comfort

A person's sense of physical or psychological ease

Dynamic data

Human body measurements when the subject is in motion/physical activities

Enhanced Work Environment

Designed spaces for Healthy Workforce, Enhanced Productivity, Reduced number of sick days

Environmental factors

Psychological factors affecting performance of an individual due to the environment that the individual is situated

Ergonomics/Human Factors

The application of scientific information concerning the relationship between human beings and the design of products, systems and environments

Fatigue

A person's sense of physical or psychological tiredness

Functional/Dynamic data

Data measurements while performing a task e.g. reaching, manoeuvring and aspects of equipment use

Human error

Factors associated with major accident, catastrophic consequences to people, property and the environment

Human information processing system

How user interprets information and reaction through inputs, processes (which can be sensory, central and motor) and outputs

Interval data scale

Based on numeric scales in which we know the order and the exact difference between the values

Nominal data scale

Based 'by name' and used in classification or division of objects into discrete groups

Ordinal data scale

Numerical scale where the exact numerical value has no significance other than to rank a set of data points on from qualitative data

Percentile range

The proportion of a population with a dimension at or less than a given value

Perception

The way in which something is regarded, understood or interpreted

Physiological factor data

Human factor data related to physical characteristics used to optimise the user's safety, health, comfort and performance (motor processes)

Primary data

First hand data collected by a user for a specific purpose

Psychological factor data

Human factor data related to psychological interpretations caused by light, smell, sound, taste, temperature and texture

Qualitative data

Typically descriptive data used to find out in depth the way people think or feel - their perception

Quantitative data

Data is information about quantities; that is, information that can be measured and written down with numbers

Range of sizes

A selection of sizes a product is made to cater for the majority of a market

Ratio data scale

Scale allows you to compare differences between numbers

Reach

A range that a person can stretch, touch or grasp an object from a specified position

Secondary data

Data collected by someone other than the user

Structural/Static data

Refers to measurements taken while the subject is in a fixed position, e.g. height, arm length

Workplace Environmental Factors

Maximising performance and reducing risk of accidents of Physical Environment, Equipment design and the Workflow of the task of the user

Workspace Envelope

A 3-dimensional space within which you carry out physical work activities when you are at a fixed location

Clean technology

Products, services or processes that reduce waste and require the minimum amount of non-renewable resources

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

A system that simultaneously generates heat and electricity from either the combustion of diesel/biomass fuel or a solar heat collector

Converging technologies

The merging of nanotechnology, biotechnology, info and communication technologies into a single product

Cradle to cradle (Circular Economy)

A design philosophy that aims to eliminate waste from the production, use and disposal of a product. It centres on products which are made to be made again

Cradle to gate

A design philosophy that considers the environmental effects of a product all of the way from extraction to the end of manufacture only

Cradle to grave

A design philosophy that considers the environmental effects of a product all of the way from manufacture to disposal

Dematerialization

The reduction of total material and energy throughout a product or service

Design for the environment software

Software to peform Life cycle Analysis on a product and assess its environmental impact at all stages

Eco-design

Focusses on three broad environmental categories - materials, energy, and pollution/waste

Embodied energy

The total energy required to produce a product

End-of-pipe technologies

Technology that is used to reduce pollutants and waste at the end of a process

Energy distribution

The method with which energy is transported from a source to where it is used

Energy storage

The method with which energy is stored for later use

Energy utilization

The method with which energy is used

Green design

Designing in a way that takes account of the environmental impact of the product throughout its use and disposal

Green legislation

Laws and regulations that are based on conservation and sustainability principles used by designers and manufacturers

Incremental solutions

Products which are improved and developed over time leading to new versions and generations

Individual energy generation

The ability for an individual to remotely use and charge low-energy devices

Life cycle analysis (LCA)

Environmental Assessment (5 stages) of a product (pre-production; production; distribution (including packaging; utilization; and disposal)

Linear economy

An economy based on the make, use, dispose model (Cradle to Grave)

Grid systems

An electrical supply distribution network either national or international

Non-renewable resources

A natural resource that cannot be re-made or re-grown as it does not naturally re-form at a rate that makes its use sustainable

Product recovery strategies

The processes of separating components of a product to recover recyclable materials

Quantification of carbon emissions

Defining numerically the carbon emissions generated by a particular product

Radical solutions

A completely new product is devised by going back to the roots of a problem and thinking about a solution in a different way

Re-engineer

To redesign components or products to improve their characteristics or performance e.g. solar power

Re-use

Use of a product in the same way or in a new context e.g. glass jar

Recondition

Rebuilding a product so that it is in "as new" condition e.g. vintage car

Recovery of raw materials

Separation of components of a product in order to recover raw materials

Recycle

Using the materials from obsolete products to generate new products e.g. alu soda cans to make new alu parts

Renewability

The rate that a resource can be replenished

Renewable resources

A natural resource that can replenished with the passage of time

Repair

The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing structure or device e.g. new sole on a shoe

Reserves

A natural resources that have been identified in terms of quanitity and quality

Resources

Stock or supply of resources that are available in a given context

System level solutions

Solutions that are implemented to deal with the whole system, rather than just components

Precautionary principle

The anticipation of potential problems in relation to the environmental impact of the production, use and disposal of a product

Prevention principle

The avoidance/minimization of producing waste in relation to the production, use and disposal of a product

Waste mitigation strategies

Strategies used to reduce waste by a product's production and disposal

Aesthetic models

A physical model developed to look like the final product

Animation

The ability to link graphic screens together to simulate digital image

Assembly drawings

A diagram that shows how components fit together to make a whole typically presented in an exploded view

Bottom-up modelling

Designer creates part geometry independent of the assembly and once all parts are completed, they are brought together for final CAD assembly

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The use of computers digital software to aid the design process

Conceptual modelling

A model that exists in the mind used to help us know and understand ideas

Data Modelling

A model that determines the structure of data

Digital human

CAD simulation of a variety of mechanical and biological aspects of the human body

Fidelity

The degree (low, medium or high level) to which a prototype is exactly like the final product

Finite element analysis (FEA)

The calculation and simulation of unknown factors in products using CAD systems e.g. simulating the stresses of a frame structure

Formal drawing techniques

Drawing technique that has fixed rules, the most widely used being isometric projection and perspective drawing

Fused deposition modelling (FDM)

A 3D printing technique that places melted layers of material on a bed to build up a 3D model.

Graphical models

A visualization of an idea, often created on paper in two or three dimensions

Haptic technology

An emerging technology that interfaces the user via the sense of touch (vibration)

Instrumented models

Physical prototypes that are equipped with the ability to take measurements to provide accurate quantitative feedback for analysis

Laminated object manufacturing (LOM)

A 3D CAD model is sliced into layers, then a machine cuts out each layer from a roll of material using a laser or blade cutter. The layers can then be glued in the correct order to create a 3D model

Mock-ups

A physical model of a part, mechanism or lever of a product used to test and get feedback

Motion capture

The recording of human movement by video, magnetic or electro-mechanical devices

Part drawings

Drawing of a single component of an assembled product containing all dimensions

Perspective drawings

A set of formal drawing techniques that depicts an object as getting smaller and closer together the further away they are (foreshortening)

Physical modelling

The creation of a smaller or larger tangible version of an object that can be physically interacted with

Prototypes

A high fidelity physical model built to test both aesthetic and function of the product

Scale drawings

A graphical drawing of a part/product either smaller or larger than the original size

Selective laser sintering (SLS)

An additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser to fuse powder particles of material into 3D shape

Sketches

Quick drawings of ideas used to convey or refine the idea

Solid modelling

Digital representations of the final product includes a complete set of both surface and interior aspects for the product to be realised

Stereo-lithography

An additive manufacturing technique that uses a laser to liquid of material into 3D shape

Surface modelling

A digital appearance model of a product containing no data about the interior of the product/part

Top-down modelling

A digital method to design a product by gradually evolving the design into a complete product consisting of components and sub-assemblies