Technology

Foreword1 The History and Development of Technology 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Methodology 1.3 Empiricism and Science 1.4 Energy Machines Animal Power Wind and Water The Steam Engine 1.5 Science and Technology 1.6 The Conservation of Energy The Subtlety of Heat Entropy 1.7 Materials The Stone Age Copper Iron Science of Materials 1.8 Technology Today 1.9 Concluding Remarks 1.10 Exercises 1.11 Further Reading2 Technology Extends Man's Muscles 2.1 Man's Limitations 2.2 Machines The Lever The Wheel and Axle The Pulley The Inclined Plane The Screw 2.3 Engines 2.4 Piston Engines The Four-Stroke Cycle The Two-Stroke Cycle The Diesel Engine 2.5 Rotary Engines The Windmill The Waterwheel Water Turbines Steam Turbines Gas Turbines 2.6 Linear Engines 2.7 Transmission of Power Mechanical Transmission Hydrostatic Transmission Electrical Transmission 2.8 Exercises 2.9 Further Reading3 Technology Extends Man's Senses and Communication 3.1 Introduction 3.2 The Six Senses Receptors The Brain 3.3 The Sense of Touch The Cutaneous Sense The Kinesthetic Sense 3.4 The Sense of Hearing 3.5 The Sense of Vision 3.6 The Senses of Taste and Smell 3.7 Why we Need Measuring Instruments 3.8 The Basics of a Measurement System Basic Units Derived Units 3.9 Measurement Systems Length and Linear Displacement Linear and Angular Velocity Mass and Force Time Temperature 3.10 Errors and Accuracy Accountable Errors Unaccountable Errors 3.11 Communication Telecommunications 3.12 Noise and Information 3.13 Exercises 3.14 Further Reading4 Technology Extends Man's Control 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Amplifiers 4.3 On-Off Amplifiers 4.4 Continuous Amplifiers A Mechanical Amplifier Electronic Amplifiers Fluid Amplifiers 4.5 Open Loop Control 4.6 Closed Loop Control 4.7 Control and Human Operators 4.8 Automatic Control Servomechanisms Early Examples of Automatic Control 4.9 Quantitative Analysis of Control Systems 4.10 Modes of Control 4.11 Stability Effect of Lags Instability Effect of Dead Time 4.12 Controlling the Order of Events 4.13 Exercises 4.14 Further Reading5 Technology Extends Man's Brain 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Historical Survey 5.3 Mechanical Calculators 5.4 The Electronic Computer 5.5 What is a Computer? 5.6 Data Representation in the Computer 5.7 Calculating in Binary 5.8 The Computer's Basic Operations Logic Gates Addition Using Logic Gates 5.9 Control 5.10 The Store Magnetic Core The Flip-Flop RAM and ROM 5.11 How to Tell the Computer What to Do Machine Code Assembly Code High-Level Languages 5.12 Programming Principles Basic Arithmetic 5.13 Program Development Flow Charts 5.14 Peripherals Input Devices Output Devices Backing Store 5.15 Exercises 5.16 Further Reading6 Models and Optimisation: Tools for the Technologist 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Iconic Models 6.3 Symbolic Models Symbolism of Mental Images Symbolism of Written Language Symbolism of Mathematical Notation 6.4 Analogue Models 6.5 Computers in Simulation Analogue Computers Digital Computers in Simulation 6.6 Empirical Models 6.7 Models with Feedback 6.8 Optimisation 6.9 Optimisation Using Mathematical Models Designing a Tray for Minimum Cost Optimising Stocks Maximum Power from a Hydraulic Actuator Minimising the Amount of Material in a Structure Minimising Distance 6.10 Can we Achieve the Optimum? 6.11 Operational Research Techniques for Finding the Optimum Linear Programming Critical Path Analysis Dynamic Programming 6.12 Exercises 6.13 Further Reading7 The Methodology of Technology 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The Methodology of Technology 7.3 Basic Needs Needs and Demands Identifying the Real Need 7.4 The Search for Alternative Solutions Knowing Enough About It Brainstorming Morphological Analysis 7.5 Elimination of Non-starters Human Constraints Legal Factors Economic Factors Technical Factors 7.6 Choosing the Best Solution Assessing the Benefits Counting the Costs The Consumer's and the Technologist's View of Costs 7.7 Implementation of the Solution 7.8 Exercises 7.9 Further Reading8 Technology in Action 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Transportation The Automobile The Town Car Vehicle Propulsion Batteries Linear Motors Pneumatic Propulsion Suspension and Support Control of Transportation Systems Micro Control Macro Control New Ideas for Public Transport Personal Rapid Transit Moving Pavements 8.3 Robots Automata Instructing and Controlling the Robot Industrial Robots Robot Intelligence 8.4 Conclusions 8.5 Exercises 8.6 Further Reading9 Industry: Structures and Operation 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Industry Direct and Indirect Production The Division of Labour What Do Producers Need? The Three Types of Production 9.3 British Industry 9.4 Manufacturing Industry 9.5 Company Performance 9.6 The Subsections of Industry Production Research and Development Marketing Sales Finance Personnel Industrial Relations Ancillary Services 9.7 Company Organisation 9.8 Exercises 9.9 Further Reading10 Technology and Society 10.1 Introduction 10.2 The Environment and Earth's Resources The Population Constraint! Constraints on Agricultural Land Constraints on the Chemical Elements Constraints on Fuels How Long will Resources Last? The Pollution Constraint Conclusions 10.3 Appropriate Technology Appropriate Technology in Water Engineering 10.4 Men and Machines The Industrial Revolution Changes in the Textile Industry Reactions Against the Machines Employment and the Microprocessor The Office of the Future Conclusions 10.5 Exercises 10.6 Further ReadingAppendix 1: The SI SystemAppendix 2: Answers to Selected ExercisesIndex