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Foundations of Engineering & Technology
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Engineering and
Technology Outcomes:
Inventions and
Innovations
Many achievements have been brought about
by technology and engineering, along with the
application of science and mathematics. These
achievements, such as vaccines, space travel, and
the Internet, are the result of technology and engi-
neering and are made possible through an evolu-
tion of technological development.
The evolution of technological development is
the outcome of engineers creating inventions and
innovations. Inventions are new, useful products or
processes that solve some type of problem and did
not previously exist. Innovations are refi finements
or improvements made to preexisting products or
processes that better solve a problem.
Inventions and innovations are a direct outcome
of the work done by engineers. Engineers transform
their understanding of mathematics and science
into usable products and processes that improve
our lives and increase the boundaries of human
possibility. Despite the countless inventions and
innovations, there are still many objects humans
have yet to discover and create.
When engineers are designing inventions or
innovations, they often keep detailed documenta-
tion of their process. This documentation is used to
protect an engineer’s work. It is important to protect
inventions and innovations so that ideas are not
stolen and inventions or innovations are not used
without the permission.
Documentation of the process enables engi-
neers to obtain patents to protect their work. A
patent is a property right granted by the govern- t
ment that allows inventors or innovators exclusive
use to create their designs and sell their ideas,
Figure  2-10. Patents are granted for new, useful
processes or products. The United States Patent and
Trademark Offi grants patents or trademarks. fice
Applicants must prove that the idea for the inven-
tion or innovation was their creation and they must
show documentation of the development process.
Documentation should include dated sketches and
explanations of how the invention operates and all
related information, such as an engineering note-
book or electronic portfolio.
United States Patent Office
Figure 2-10. A United States patent.