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Chapter 2 Connecting Technology and Engineering through Mathematics and Science
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T
echnology often requires performing a task
using an object that is not part of the human
body. For example, suppose you want to crack
the shell of a walnut. You could put it in your mouth
and bite. That, however, is not technology, because
the human body is doing the work. When you find fi
that your jaw is not strong enough to do the job, you
will need another way to open the walnut. Seeing
some rocks, you place the shell on one rock and
strike it with another rock. You have used a tool
to improve your ability to open the walnut. This
is considered technology. The rock extended your
potential, or ability, to do a task. Technology is the
development and application of knowledge, tools,
and human skills to solve problems and extend
human potential, brought about by needs and
desires, Figure 2-1.
Another important feature of technology is the
ability to develop new knowledge, tools, and skills.
Many animals other than humans can use tools.
For example, otters use rocks to open clams and
monkeys use sticks to collect ants to eat, Figure 2-2.
What makes technology a human process is that
we use knowledge and resources to continuously
refi or create new tools and practices, instead of fine
restricting ourselves to natural artifacts. This is the
intersection of technology and engineering. Broadly
speaking, engineering involves the processes that
we follow to create and improve technologies in
order to better solve our problems. This chapter will
further defi and explain the connection between fine
technology and engineering and examine the
importance and relationship of mathematics and
science.
Technology’s Relationship
to Engineering
Technology can be any type of tool or process
that extends human capabilities and makes life
easier by solving a problem. A hammer fastens
materials by driving a nail into those materials.
A rock can also drive a nail but a hammer can do
the task more easily because of its structure. The
hammer is a technological device because it was
developed to make the task easier and more effec-
tive, and to extend our capabilities.
control and
modify the
environment
Technology
is...
tools,
machines,
and systems
to extend
the human
ability to
...developing
and
applying
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Figure 2-1. Technology extends one’s ability to do a specific task.
Norma Cornes/Shutterstock.com
Figure 2-2. Monkeys use sticks as tools to help them
collect ants.