Design Technology!

1 point perspective drawing

Illusion of forms drawn back to one vanishing point on the horizon line

2 point perspective drawing

2 vanishing points are used and the object is diagonal to viewer

Act of Insight (innovation strategies)

Often referred to as the "eureka moment", a sudden image of a potential solution is formed in the mind, usually after a period of thinking about a problem.

Adaptation (innovation strategies)

A solution to a problem in one field is used to provide a new idea for a design problem in another.

Additive Techniques

Manufacturing techniques that add material in order to create it

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.

Aesthetic Appeal

Favorable in terms of appearance

Aesthetic charateristics

Aspects of a product that relate to tastes, texture, smell and appearance

Aesthetic models

A model developed to look and feel like the final product.

Air-drying

Stacks sawed timber in the open or in large shed hence there is little control over the drying process. Will warp the wood.

Alertness

The level of vigilance, readiness or caution of an individual.

Alloy

A mixture that contains at least two metals. This can be a mixture of metals or a mixture of metals and non-metals.

Analogy (innovation strategies)

An idea from one context is used to stimulate ideas for solving a problem in another context.

Animation

The ability to link graphic screens together in such a way as to simulate motion or a process.

Anthropometrics

The aspect of ergonomics that deals with body measurements,

particularly those of size, strength and physical capacity.

Architectural innovation

The technology of the components stays the same, but the configuration of the components is changed to produce a new design.

Assembly drawings

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

Assembly line production

A volume production process where products and components are moved continuously along a conveyor. As the product goes from one work station to another, components are added until the final product is assembled.

Automated production

A volume production process involving machines controlled by computers.

Batch production

Limited volume production (a set number of items to be produced)

Bio-compatibility

The product ensures the continued health of a biological environment.

Biomechanics

The research and analysis of the mechanics of living organisms. Biomechanics in Human factors includes the research and analysis of the mechanics (operation of our muscles, joints, tendons, etc.) of our

human body. It also includes Force (impact on user's joints), Repetition, Duration and Posture.

Bottom-up modelling

A designer creates part geometry independent of the assembly or any other component. Although there are often some design criteria established before modelling the part, this information is not shared between models. Once all parts are completed, they are brought together for the first time in the assembly.

Bowing

A warp along the length of the face of the wood

Brittle

Easily breaks into numerous pieces

Chance (innovation strategies)

An unexpected discovery leads to a new idea.

Chemically inert

Lack of re-activity with other materials

Circular economy

An economy model in which resources remain in use for as long as possible, from which maximum value is extracted while in use, and the products and materials are recovered and regenerated at the end of the product life cycle.

Clean technology

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

Clearance

The physical space between two objects.

Cognitive Ergonomics

How mental processes, (memory, reasoning, motor response and perception), affect the interactions between users and other components of a system.

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

A system that simultaneously generates heat and electricity from either the combustion of fuel, or a solar heat collector.

Comfort

A person's sense of physical or psychological ease

Competition

Any company or product that can fulfil similar functions for a similar market

Composite

a material comprised of two or more constituent materials that have different properties

Compressive strength

The ability of a material to withstand being pushed or squashed

Computer Aided Design (CAD)

The use of computers to aid the design process.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC)

Refers specifically to the computer control of machines for the purpose of manufacturing complex parts in metals and other materials. Machines are controlled by a program commonly called a "G code". Each code is assigned to a particular operation or process. The codes control X, Y, Z movements and feed speeds.

Conceptual modelling

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

Configurational innovation

A change is made in both technology and organization.

Conflict and compromise

The development of new products often require a multidisciplinary team including designers, engineers, and manufacturers. These different actors often have different priorities when developing a product. In order to achieve the goals of creating the new product, the different team members must often reach an agreement.

Continuous flow

A production method used to manufacture, produce or process materials without interruption.

Converging technologies

The synergistic merging of nanotechnology, biotechnology, information and communication technologies and cognitive science.

Copyright

A legal right that grants the creator of an original work exclusive ownership for its use and distribution. Usually for a limited time and within geographical boundaries, copyright allows the creator to receive compensation for their intellectual effort.

Cradle to Cradle

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 Grave

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

Craft production

A small-scale production process centered on manual skills.

Creep

The slow, permanent deformation of a solid material under the influence of a mechanical stress.

Creosote

A material that penetrates the timber fibers protecting the integrity of the wood from attack from borer, wood lice, and fugal attack.

Culture

In the context of classic design, this plays an important part. Products often reflect these influences and mark transition points within a particular one.

Cupping

A warp across the width of the face of wood, in which the edges are higher or lower than the centre

Data modelling

A model that determines the structure of data.

Dematerialization

The reduction of total material and energy throughout of any product and service

Density

The mass per unit volume of a material. Its importance is in portability in terms of a product's weight and size. Design contexts include, pre-packaged food (instant noodles) is sold by weight and volume, packaging foams.

Design classic

A product that serves as a standard of its time, that has been manufactured industrially and has timeless appeal.

Design for assembly

Designing taking account of component to component assembly, components into sub-assemblies and sub-assemblies into complete products.

Design for disassembly

Designing a product so that when it becomes obsolete it can easily and economically be taken apart, the components reused or repaired, and the materials recycled.

Design for Manufacture

Designers design specifically for optimum use of existing manufacturing capability

Design for Materials

Planning in relation to materials during processing

Design for process

Planning to enable the product to be manufactured using a specific manufacturing process, for example, injection molding.

Design for the environment software

Software that allows designers to perform Life cycle analysis (LCA) on a product and assess its environmental impact.

Design protection

A simple and cost-effective way to protect an innovative shape, appearance or ornamentation.

Design specification

A simple and cost-effective way to protect an innovative shape, appearance or ornamentation.

Diffusion (Markets)

The wide acceptance (and sale) of a product.

Digital human

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

Disruptive innovation

A product or type of technology that challenges existing companies to ignore or embrace technical change

Dominant design

The design contains those implicit features of a product that are recognized as essential by a majority of manufacturers and purchasers.

Drivers for invention

These include personal motivation to express creativity/for personal interest, scientific or technical curiosity, constructive discontent, desire to make money, desire to help others.

Dry rot

When timber is subject to decay and attacked by fungus

Ductility

The ability of a material to be drawn or extruded into a wire or other extended shape

Dynamic data

Human body measurements taken when the subject is in motion related to range and reach of various body movements. E.g. crawling height, overhead reach and the range of upper body movements.

Early adopters

The second fastest category to adopt an innovation

Early majority

The third fastest group to adopt an innovation, tends to take more time to consider adopting new innovations and is inclined to draw from feedback from early adopters before taking the risk of purchasing new products/systems

Eco-Design

A design strategy that focusses on three broad environmental categories - materials, energy, and pollution/waste.

Elasticity

The extent to which a material will return to its original shape after being deformed

Electrical insulator

Reduces transmission of electric charge

Electrical resistivity

The measure of a material's ability to conduct electricity. A material that has a low amount of this will conduct electricity well.

Electro-Rheostatic

This smart property relates to a fluid that can undergo a dramatic change in its viscosity when exposed to an electric field.

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 retained for later use.

Energy utilization

The method with which energy is used.

Entrepreneur

An influential individual who can take an invention to market, often by financing the development, production and diffusion of a product into the marketplace.

Environmental Factors

A set of psychological factors that can affect the performance of an individual that come from the environment that the individual is situated.

Equilibrium Moisture Content (EMC)

Point at which the moisture content of wood achieves an equilibrium with the environment which can be affected by humidity and temperature.

Ergonomics

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.

Felting

A method for converting yarn into fabric by matting the fibers together

Fidelity

The degree to which a prototype is exactly like the final product.

Finite element analysis

The calculation and simulation of unknown factors in products using CAD systems. For example, simulating the stresses within a welded car part.

First Generation Robots

A simple mechanical arm that has ability to make precise motions at high speed. They need constant supervision by a human operator.

First to market

The first product of its type to be released on the market.

Form

Also considered as the three-dimensional space that a product takes up, in the context of classic design, relates to the shape of a product and the aesthetic qualities that the shape gives.

Formal drawing techiques

A type of drawing technique that has fixed rules, the most widely used being isometric projection and perspective drawing.

Free moisture

The moisture within timber that is contained within the cell cavities and inter cellular spaces.

Function

Products can be considered classic designs based on how well they fulfil the task that they have been designed for

Functional Data

Dynamic data measurements while performing a required task e.g. reaching abilities, maneuvering and aspects of space and equipment use.