Technology and Innovation. Terms to know: Technology: the use of materials, tools and skills Technological innovation: the development of new technologies.

Technology and Innovation

Terms to know:

Technology: the use of materials, tools and skills

Technological innovation: the development of new technologies

Innovation #1: Moveable type Created in 1450 by Johann

Gutenberg

Allowed books to be printed more cheaply; news and ideas spread quickly

Helped launch the Protestant Reformation by spreading criticism of the Catholic Church

Innovation #2: Steam Engine

Invented in the 1700’s

Provided power for factories, transportation, steamboats, and trains.

Innovation #3: Internal Combustion Engine Powered

automobiles and airplanes

Improvements in places and ease of travel and shipping goods

Innovation #4: GPS and GIS

GPS: Global Positioning Systems Utilize satellites to send exact

locations on Earth. Used today for cars, addresses

and routes, search and rescue capabilities, and weapons/military.

Example: GoogleEarth

Innovation #4: GPS and GIS GIS: Graphic Information Systems

Utilize computers to capture, store, manage, and analyze information

Allows for better interpretation and visualization of data

Innovation #5: Air Conditioning

Allow people to move and live in places that have more extreme weather.

Caused a major population shift to the South and West starting in the 1960’s.

Innovation #6: Desalinization The process by which salt is

separated to make fresh water

Allows people to adapt to new environments where only salt water may be present (example: Israel)

El Paso, Texas has one of the world’s largest desalinization plants

Innovation #7: Agriculture Introduction of the tractor allowed for

farmers to harvest crops more quickly

Fertilizers and pesticides keep crops healthy and insect-free

Farmers are learning to grow plants with less water, land, and labor

Satellites help farmers get more accurate weather reports

Innovation #8: Trade Movement from trading with nearby

communities to a world wide market place

Larger ships, planes, trucks, and trains allow more goods from more places.

Some of the biggest manufacturers in the world are China, Mexico, Japan, USA, and Chile.

Innovation #9: Medicine The understanding of DNA has

opened doors for scientists to understand genetics

New tools like CAT scans and MRI’s use computers to create 3D images the body

Creation of medicines and developing cures for diseases