Technology & Progress©2014 Joe TritschlerDepartment of Biomedical, Industrial & Human factors EngineeringWright State University • Dayton, OhioProgression of Technology• In any engineering discipline, you should be acutely aware of the state and progression of technology.• Examples of dynamically-changing institutions:o Sources of Powero Methods of Transportationo Means of Communicationo Types of InformationThe Tesla Model S (Electric Car)Sources of Power• Muscleo Peopleo Animals• Chemical (thermal)o Combustion; often used to produce steam, which can be efficiently coupled to locomotive engines, dynamos, etc. • Wind & Watero Sails, mills, dams• Solar• Nuclear• Note that virtually all of those sources of power can be considered “old technology,” once used in raw form, but are continually being used in new, novel ways; i.e., ultra-efficiently-controlled combustion engines versus open fires, electric wind turbines versus grain mills, solar panels, etc.Sources of PowerMethods of Transportation• Foot• Animal• Sleigh• Wheel• Boat• Auto• Wing• Rocket• Teleporting & Time Travel?Means of Communication• Shouting & Waving• Fire, Smoke, & Flags• Telegraph & Telephone• Radio & Television• Internet• Telepathy?Types of Information• Language• Symbologyo Numericalo Graphicalo Textual• Mediumo Carvedo Writteno Printedo Electronico Ether (definition: a medium that in the wave theory of light permeates all space and transmits transverse waves)Moore’s Law• Intel co-founder Gordon Moore noticed in 1965 that the number of transistors on integrated circuits seemed to double every two years. Nearly fifty years later, the trend still continues and is quite linear!• Scientists and engineers have speculated that “the trend cannot go on forever;” that eventually transistors will reach atomic proportions. But then again, didn’t we just discover another new, much smaller sub-atomic particle?• Moore’s Law is often considered a metaphor for all technological developments; i.e., pixels in DSLR cameras, etc.Buxton’s Law• Billy Buxton, of Microsoft, has asserted that the functionality promised by manufacturers of technological devices will exactly follow Moore’s Law.• However…Nature’s Law• The laws of nature dictate that human capability remains CONSTANT.• Graphically:timetechnologyhuman capabilitythreshold of frustrationSuper Appliances• Multiple Functions• Single Location• Single User• Space/Complexity Trade-Off• Simple Examples:o Swiss Army Knifeo Cuisinart Food ProcessorDesign Goals• Remember, the end goal is to solve problems in a way which benefits society, civilization, and mankind!• Hustling new gadgets to make a corporate buck might not be the same thing.Simplicity and Specialization• In many biological systems, specialized organisms tend to win out over generalized ones.• Technology should strive for the same relationships.• Evolution of technology -o rather than converging towards ever more complex multifunction tools;o should diverge towards a set of simpler, more specialized tools.Usefulness & FunctionalityUsefulness = ଵி௨௡௖௧௜௢௡௔௟௜௧௬೙ n = Number of FunctionsExercise• In 30 seconds, draw a picture of a computer.• List most significant changes to computers in the past 20 years.o Xerox Star 8010 - 1980o Apple MAC - 1983o Smart phone - 1997ExerciseFrequently Listed Significant Changes• Smaller• Faster• Cheaper• Number• Networking• Input / Output TransducersIf you think about it, isn’t the list in reverse order of importance?Human-Centric Perspective• Importance of usage / activity rather than technology.o Who uses the computer?o What are they doing?o Where are they doing?o When are they able to do it?o Why are they doing it?o How do they do it?Design Results• These are the questions that matter the most and can guide the design towards:o the right solution;o in the right form;o for the right person;o in the right location;o at the right time;o and at the right