Technological developments

Question 1

Give an example of something that has changed in response to developments in technology and market pull.

Answer 1

• The free play radio.
• Trevor Bayliss
• People in Africa weren’t getting the message about safe sex because they couldn’t afford batteries for their radio.
• He produced a radio that would give 14 minutes of listening time for every 30 second wind.

Question 2

Give 4 examples of products that illustrate major developments in technology.

Answer 2

1 - Radios
2 - Batteries
3 - TVs
4 - Telephone

Question 3

When did the radio become commercially available?

Answer 3

Late 1920s early 1930s

Question 4

How did the radio develop in the 1940s and 1950s?

Answer 4

Radios were made from newly developed plastic.

Bakelite (a thermosetting polymer) was used for various external components.

Question 5

What are n-type materials?

Answer 5

A type of semi-conductor that has been doped with a more negatively charged material allowing a flow of energy in the same direction as the current flow in a wire.

Question 6

What are p-type materials?

Answer 6

A type of semi-conductor that has been doped with a more positively charged material allowing a flow of energy in the opposite direction as the current flow in a wire.

Question 7

How did transistors revolutionised the electronics industry?

Answer 7

• The transistors needed less power than a thermionic valve, which allowed circuits to be developed that required less power.
• Resulted in the reduction in size of supporting components, such as resistors and capacitors.

Question 8

Instead of transistors what did early radios use for power?

Answer 8

Thermionic valves.

Question 9

What were radios like in the 1960s?

Answer 9

• The cases were still made of wood in the form of bent veneers.
• Much coarser construction than 1930s.
• Covered in a plastic ‘leatherette’ material.
• The sound quality was much improved.
• More suited for music.

Question 10

What were radios like in the 1970s?

Answer 10

• Increased use of thermoplastics such as acrylics, and acrylic-based polymers such as ABS.
• Plastics meant injection moulding could be used.
• Reduction in size and power consumption.

Question 11

How did injection moulding improve radios?

Answer 11

• Made it possible to mould styling and ergonomic features.
• Mountings for circuit boards, handles, fixing brackets and strengthening ribs.
• Done in an all-in-one single moulding process.

Question 12

How did the use of plastics improve radios?

Answer 12

• Little amount of finishing.
• Injection moulding could be used.
• Lighter.
• Self-coloured (adding pigments with the plastic granules).

Question 13

What is an integrated circuit?

Answer 13

A small electronic device made out of a chip of semi-conductor material. These devices contain electronic circuits in which there may be thousands of transistors.

Question 14

How did the microchip revolutionise the design and manufacture of electronic products?

Answer 14

It made it possible to miniaturise products like radios and to increase the range of features available to the consumer.

Question 15

What are the pros of the modern Sony Walkman?

Answer 15

• Truly pocket-sized.
• Has ergonomic features.
• Is very comfortable to hold.
• Is simple to use.

Question 16

What do many electrical goods now have which is made possible by the microchip?

Answer 16

• GUI (graphical user interface) or a visual display either in LED or LCD.
• Programmable features such as the opportunity to randomise the order of tracks played.

Question 17

Name some types of batteries.

Answer 17

Zinc-carbon - Cheap cell batteries
Alkaline - More expensive brands e.g. Duracell
Lithium photo - Cameras
Lead-acid - Cars
Nickel-cadmium - Used in a variety of products as rechargeable standard-sized batteries
Nickel-metal-hydride - Replacing nickel-cadmium
Lithium ion - High-end laptops and mobile phones
Zinc-air - Lightweight and rechargeable
Zinc-mercury-oxide - Small sized - Hearing aids
Silver-zinc - Aeronautical appliactions
Metal Chloride - Electrical vehicles