Fundamental Technological Concepts

From the Ontario Technological Education curriculum:

"This curriculum identifies a number of fundamental concepts that inform design and production in various areas of technology. To address technological challenges and solve problems effectively, students need to take the full range of these concepts and elements of technology into account. As they progress through their technological education courses, students will come to understand these concepts more deeply, and to work with them creatively as they confront new challenges."

Fundamental Concepts

Aesthetics: The aspects of a product, process, or service that make it pleasing to the human senses.

Control: The means by which a device or process is activated or regulated.

Environmental sustainability: The creation of products or services and use of resources in a way that allows present needs to be met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. An important related concept is that of environmental stewardship – the acceptance of responsibility for the sustainable use and treatment of land and other natural resources.

Ergonomics: The design of a product, process, or service in a way that takes the user's well-being with respect to its use or delivery into account – that is, in a way that minimizes discomfort, risk of injury, and expenditure of energy.

Fabrication/building/creation: The act or process of assembling components and/or materials and resources to create a product or service.

Function: The use for which a product, process, or service is developed.

Innovation: Original and creative thinking resulting in the effective design of a product or service.

Material: Any substance or item used in the creation of a product or delivery of a service.

Mechanism: A system of connected parts that allows a product to work or function.

Power and energy: The resource that enables a mechanism to perform work.

Safety: The care and consideration required to ensure that the product, process, or service will not cause harm.

Structure: The essential physical or conceptual parts of a product, process, or service, including the way in which the parts are constructed or organized.

Systems: The combinations of interrelated parts that make up a whole and that may be connected with other systems.