Chapter 1. What is Technology? The Design Process FREE
Every day people meet problems that need to be solved. When you use your knowledge, your skills and different materials to solve a problem, you are doing technology. A raincoat keeps you dry, a chair lets you sit, and a bag helps you carry your books. All of these are made by people to make life easier.
What technology means
Technology is not only about computers and phones. It is about making useful things that help people. Technology helps us meet our needs (things we must have, like food, water and shelter) and our wants (things that are nice to have, like a toy or a game).
- You use knowledge when you know how something works.
- You use skills when you cut, fold, glue or draw.
- You use materials like paper, wood, plastic or fabric to build.
The design process
People who make things follow a plan called the design process. It has clear steps that help you work in the right order so that your product turns out well.
- Investigate — find out about the problem and who needs help.
- Design — think of ideas and draw a plan.
- Make — build your product using the plan.
- Evaluate — check if your product works and solves the problem.
- Communicate — show and explain your idea to others.
Spotting a problem
A good designer looks around and notices problems. Maybe your pencils roll off the desk, or your lunchbox is hard to open. When you see a problem, you can ask: who has this problem and who will use the product I make? The person who will use your product is called the user.
| Problem | Who is the user? |
|---|---|
| Books fall off the shelf | A learner in the class |
| The dog gets wet in the rain | A pet owner |
| Sweets spill out of a packet | A shopkeeper |