GCSE DT: Core Content: 1.1 The impact of new and emerging tech

Impacts of tech on industrial processes

Advantages:

- More efficient ∴ cutting costs

- Quicker manufacture ∴ brought to market quicker

- Easier analysis & manipulation of information in stock

- Decrease in human error

- Increased safety as robots take dangerous jobs

- Employees are acquiring new skills (improving workforce skills set), embracing tech to compete in the labour market

- Demographic movement with people towards jobs with new or specialist tech

Disadvantages:

- Unemployment as robotics takes low-skill jobs

- Demographic movement with people moving away from low-tech areas/countries

Effect of science & tech parks on new and emerging tech

They enable businesses to associate with universities or research organisations allowing for transfer of knowledge & technology-led economic development in the surrounding area (e.g., Silicon Valley)

Disadvantages of these parks are that they can infringe on greenfield sites resulting in habitat loss and resentment among locals

Definition of an enterprise and the types

A business, particularly one started by someone who shows initiative by taking a risk setting up, investing in and running it

Types: Privately owned businesses, crowd funded projects, government funded projects, not-for-profit organisations

Privately owned businesses

Privately owned businesses tend to be relatively small with limited sales, stock and workforce. Strategic decisions are made by the owner(s). An advantage is that they are often sufficiently flexible to easily adopt, adapt and exploit new technologies. However, they may not have enough funds to invest in cutting-edge manufacturing equipment.

Crowd funding

Crowd funding is a comparatively new way of launching

new products or technologies. It funds a project by raising money from a large number of people who each contribute a small amount of money online. It depends on capturing the imagination of potential funders, using online platforms to coordinate and administer the funds.

Government funding

Government funding is often available for new businesses that could contribute to the overall economy, making the use of new and emerging technologies easier for them. Local councils may also provide lower-level loans or grants.

Not-for-profit organisations

Not-for-profit organisations reinvest the money they make into their cause (e.g., healthcare phone apps)

Effect of tech on the consumer

- Consumers want newer technology increasing use of scarce resources need to make them

- Education & entertainment for children

- Allows for assistive tech for those with disabilities: all-terrain wheelchairs, prosthetics, eye tracking, screen reader, voice recognition

- Creates training opportunities for apprentices, with online progress logging and apprentices testing out new products

Effect of tech on the worker

- Companies attract wider skill bases in their workforce as tech takes lower skilled jobs and people are needed to operate new technology in manufacturing by increasing wages for those jobs in demand. Workers try to develop new skills to stay in demand throughout their careers

- Changes in working hours and shifts due to internet and mobile apps allowing workers to access systems whenever convenient, increasing labour available, productivity & morale

- Tech allows for remote working as employees can access employer's services using remote devices as well as video conference meetings

- IoT (Internet of Things): interrelated devices connected to the internet allowing for tracking & controlling inventory, security, factory management, and energy conservation. Concerns: malfunction, over-reliance, data breaches

Advantages of remote working

- Flexible work schedule (work at own pace)

- Less time & money wasted commuting

- Fewer distractions

Disadvantages of remote working

- Lack of routine

- Less social interaction

- Blurs work-life balance

- Less IT support would affect productivity

- Data breaches

Advantages of video conferencing

- Meetings and training can take place without leaving the office

- Travel costs and the time taken to travel can be reduced or eliminated

- Meetings can be called instantly at multiple locations with little notice

- Speeds up decision making and problem solving

Disadvantages of video conferencing

- May not be as productive as a discussion around a table

- Confidential documents may need to be viewed and signed in person

- May be a high set-up cost

- May be difficult to find a suitable time across time zones

- People may not pick up on non-verbal information such as body language

Culture & Technology

- Labour movement within the EU allows for immigrants bringing innovation, skills & experience of tech

- Social segregation where minorities live in clusters results in social barriers, limiting access to education, jobs and technology

Effect of tech on transportation

- Changing fuels (diesel → electric)

- Making fewer journeys by having distribution centres close to destinations

- Designing lighter & smaller products fitting more in one shipment

- Packaging is swapped for biodegradable/recyclable materials (increases price of product)

Effect of tech on pollution

- Government has carbon taxes or subsidies for alt. energy sources

- Software predicts environmental impacts

- Old polluting tech is replaced

- Tech has improved efficiency of extraction of natural resources and has allowed for new sustainable materials

Effect of tech on waste

- Reducing: computer-control minimises off-cuts and rejects & improves efficiency

- Reusing: waste used in a later stage of manufacture

- Recycling: Automated machines separate materials by type (processed to no impurities) so they can be recycled ⇒ fewer raw materials sent to landfill. E.g., plastics can be melted and reset with no degradation of quality

- Recovering waste: recovering heat via CHP