http://www.ck12.org Chapter 1. Introduction to Physical Science
1.12 Nature of Technology
- Define technology.
- Outline how technology evolves.
The odd-looking boat in this picture was made entirely from recycled plastic bottles. That’s unusual enough, but how
the boat was made is even more unusual. Would you believe that it was created by a printer? Of course, it wasn’t a
printer like the one you might have on your desk to print school papers. It was a special 3-D printer. This type of
printer forms an object, layer by layer, by spraying a fine powder of plastic or metal instead of toner. It sprays the
powder in a pattern directed by a computer program. A laser beam melts the powder, which then hardens. You can
learn more about 3-D printing by watching the video at this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_NEG_FrkJI
(0:59).
MEDIA
Click image to the left for use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/54914What Is Technology?
Printers like the one that made the plastic bicycle are a new type of technology. Technologyis the application
of science to solve problems. Because technology finds solutions to practical problems, new technologies may