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204 Section 3 Creating Technology Chapter 9 Invention and Innovation 205

Did You Know?

o A patent is the record explaining an inventor’s new invention. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) grants patents. A patent protects the invention from being stolen from the inventor.

o The first patent was granted to Joseph Jenks for creating a better sawmill.

o The USPTO has issued over 7 million patents since it opened in 1790.

Objectives

The information given in this chapter will help you do the following:

o Explain the concept of invention.

o Summarize the history of invention.

o Compare invention and discovery.

o Summarize the three major categories of inventions.

o Explain how invention is a problem-solving process.

o Summarize the steps of the invention process.

o Give examples of some characteristics of inventors.

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Invention and

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o Recall the three main reasons for inventing.

o Recall the advantages of invention teams.

o Explain the concept of innovation.

o Explain the concept of adaptation.

Key Words

These words are used in this chapter. Do you know what they mean?

adaptation challenge creative thinking discovery

financial invention Industrial Revolution innovation

invention

invention process leisure invention patent

problem

problem solving

scientific discovery social invention spin-off

Preparing to Read

Look carefully for the main ideas as you read this chapter. Look for the details that support each of the main ideas. Use the Reading Organizer at the end of the chapter to organize the main and supporting points.

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Have you ever used a shoestring for something other than to tie your shoes, created a device to help a friend, or even created a new recipe? If you have, you are an inventor. Inventors create new and unique products. These products are called inventions. Inventions are created through the invention process. This process uses imagination and knowledge to turn ideas into devices, products, and systems. See Figure 9‑1. Once inventions

Figure 9‑1. The products we use today have been developed using imagination and knowledge. (Harris Corp.)

This chapter covers the benchmark topics for the following Standards for Technological Literacy: 1 3 5 6 7 1 0

Discussion

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exist, they are often made better through the process of innovation.

Invention

The invention process dates back to the beginning of humanity. When people began to create tools and clothes, they became inventors. Tools and clothes did not exist before people created them. Inventions have followed the materials available at any point in time.

In the Stone Age, axes and tools made of stone and bone were invented. People also invented ways of creating pottery. Next, in the Bronze Age, inventions such as the wheel and the plow were created. Irrigation and writing were also invented in the Bronze Age. The inventions of the Stone and Bronze Ages were important to our world. These inventions were the building blocks for later inventions.

The Iron Age came next. New devices were invented in the Iron Age. One impor-tant invention was the screw pump. Archimedes, a Greek inventor, developed this pump. This invention uses a large

screw to move water uphill. The screw pump is still used today, although it might not seem to be a major invention anymore. See Figure 9‑2. At the time in history when it was invented, however, moving water was a major problem. Archimedes solved that problem by using a screw inside a cylinder. The screw turns and carries the water upward. The cylinder is used to keep the water on the screw. The screw pump is also important because it is one of the first inventions that can be credited to an inventor. Earlier inventions are too old to know who invented them.

There are many early inventions we take for granted. Today, there is paper to write on, compasses to lead our way, and batteries to power our devices. Without these inven-tions, we would be faced with many of the same problems our ancestors had.

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Invention did not stop in the Iron Age. Inventions have been created in every age of time. An important time period for inven-tion is known as the Industrial Revoluinven-tion. This period lasted from around 1750 to 1850. The Industrial Revolution was a time when many machines and devices were invented. The invention of the steam engine started the revolution. See Figure 9‑3.

Figure 9‑2. A modern example of a screw pump invented thousands of years ago. (Lakeside Equipment Corporation)

Standards for Technological Literacy 6 7

Research

Have the students identify inventions created in the Bronze and Stone Ages.

Discussion

Discuss tools and devices that use simple machines.

Brainstorm

Have the students list and discuss the tools and machines available before and after the Industrial Revolution.

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This engine was used in the invention of factories, on the railroad, and in ships. Also, during the Industrial Revolution, the telegraph was invented. Better ways to

plant and grow crops were also invented during that time. Many of the inventions of the Industrial Revolution have had lasting effects on the world. Without the Industrial Revolution, there would be no factories to make products. There would be no passenger trains. It would also be much harder to communicate.

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Many of the inventions since the Industrial Revolution have been related to information. This recent period of time is known as the Information Age. In this age, vacuum tubes and transistors have been invented. These inventions led to the television and computer. The mobile telephone, the Internet, the space shuttle, and MP3 players are all inventions of the Information Age. See Figure 9‑4.

Figure 9‑3. Steam engines were used in many applications during the Industrial Revolution. (Jerry E. Howell)

Figure 9‑4. The MP3 player is just one example of a modern invention.

Research

Have the students select a common technology and research its evolution since the Industrial Revolution.

TechnoFact

Archimedes, who invented the screw pump, is known for many other things as well. He was born in Sicily around 287 BC. Archimedes was more of a mathematician than an inventor. His inventions, including the screw and the pulley, were practical uses of the geometry he studied.

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Over time, inventions have become more complex. The wheel no longer seems to be an important invention. Without the invention of the wheel, however, there would be no automobile. Many things we use and create today come from inven-tions and discoveries thousands of years old. Inventors often use logical processes of trials and alterations to create useful products and systems. Many of the inven-tions and innovainven-tions we use today have developed gradually over time.

Discovery vs

Invention

Discovery is a word often confused

with invention. You might hear the words used together. It might seem that they are interchangeable. They, however, are not. An invention is a new idea, process, or device. Humans design and create inventions.

Discoveries are different. They are not human made. Discoveries are naturally occurring. A discovery is made when some-thing that naturally occurs is first noticed. Discoveries are often called scientific

discoveries. Scientists and researchers

are the people who normally make the discoveries. Important discoveries include electricity, vacuums, and Newton’s laws of motion. Discoveries are the foundation for scientific knowledge.

Inventions and discoveries are often used together. The Montgolfier brothers, for example, discovered that a balloon filled with hot air rises. That discovery, in 1783, led to their invention of the hot air balloon. Since that time, more discoveries about propane and other gases have been made. These discoveries have led to more inventions related to the hot air balloon. Hot air ballooning is now a safe and fun sport for many people because of these discov-eries and inventions. See Figure 9‑5.

Inventions are often difficult to create without certain discoveries. Leonardo da Vinci

was an inventor who lacked the discoveries he needed. Da Vinci created plans and drawings for bicycles, helicopters, gears, and parachutes. Many of these plans were never built. In his time, the materials he needed to build these inventions did not exist. This was hundreds of years before the materials were discovered or invented.

Categories of

Inventions

Unlike discoveries, inventions are human made. Humans create inventions. An invention can be as simple as a paper clip or as complex as a satellite. Inventions can be broken down into several catego-ries. See Figure 9‑6:

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• Devices and machines. These are inventions with moving parts or electrical circuits used to do work. The lightbulb, CD player, digital camera, and mousetrap are all common devices and machines.

Figure 9‑5. Discoveries and inventions have led to the hobby of hot air ballooning.

(Napa Valley Balloons, Inc.) Standards for

Technological Literacy 6 7

Demonstrate

Use a transparency or model to show how a hot air balloon works.

Research

Have the students use the Internet to find information about the life of Leonardo da Vinci. Have them discuss examples of his inventions.

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• Products. These are manufactured artifacts. Examples of products include ink pens, sporting equipment, and clothing. Even artwork, pieces of music, and food are products.

• Processes. These are new techniques and ways of doing things. Processes can be changes in the way products are manufactured. They can also be new techniques for performing surgeries, growing crops, or making medicines.

Career Highlight

Patent Attorneys

The Job: Patent attorneys and agents write and submit

patent applications for inventors. They represent the inventor in all communications with the USPTO.

Working Conditions: These attorneys and agents spend a

majority of their time researching and preparing patent applications. They can work within large corporations, work in law firms, or be self-employed. Working conditions are similar to other law professions.

Education and Training: Patent attorneys

and agents must apply to the USPTO to represent inventors. To become registered with the USPTO, people must pass an examination on patent law and policies. They must also have at least a bachelor’s degree in a science or an engineering discipline. Those who meet the requirements and also have a law degree are considered patent attorneys. The people who do not have a law degree are titled patent agents.

Career Cluster: Law, Public Safety, Corrections & Security Career Pathway: Legal Services

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Devices Processes Products

Figure 9‑6. Inventions can be devices, processes, or products. Here are an electronic device known as a personal digital assistant, a tire production line, and a medication cart. (Photo by Steven Moeder, courtesy IDEO; Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company; Design Central, design firm—Artromick International, client)

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The Invention Process

Most inventions are created through a planned process. A few, however, are created by accident. Charles Goodyear created, perhaps, the most famous acci-dental invention. Goodyear worked to create rubber that was not sticky or brittle. In 1839, after years of work, he acciden-tally dropped a piece of rubber on his oven. When the rubber cooled, Goodyear found that the piece was not sticky or brittle. His invention of vulcanized rubber was acci-dental. Today, we have shoes, tires, and many other products made of his vulca-nized rubber. See Figure 9‑7.

Accidental inventions are not common. Most inventions are very well planned. Inventing follows a set of steps, and it is a process. The process begins with a problem and ends with a solution. This activity is a problem-solving process.

The invention process is just one type of problem solving. Troubleshooting, experimentation, and research and develop-

ment are other problem-solving processes. All problem-solving processes are useful. Some technological problems, however, can best be solved through a certain method. Troubleshooting is used to find the cause of a problem in a technological system. This type of problem often calls for some type of specific knowledge. Once the cause of the problem has been recognized, the next steps are to fix the problem and to check if the system works. Experimentation is used to carry out tests on technological products and systems. This process strongly resembles the scientific method, in that both are logical and require tinkering, hypothesizing, studying, fine-tuning, testing, and recording. Research and development is the process used to fix problems. This process is used inten-sively in business and industry to prepare devices and systems for the marketplace. The invention process creates new prod-ucts to solve problems.

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Most of the inventions people have produced over the course of history were developed using the invention process. See

Figure 9‑8. This process has five steps: 1. Identify the problem.

2. Collect information. 3. Think creatively. 4. Experiment. 5. Review.

Figure 9‑7. Tires are products made from vulcanized rubber. (Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company)

Identify the problem Collect information Review Think creatively Experiment

Figure 9‑8. The invention process follows this order.

Standards for Technological Literacy 1 1 0

Discussion

Describe and give examples of the uses of the different problem-solving processes.

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Identifying the Problem

The invention process starts with a problem, or challenge. In this first step, inventors identify the problem. A problem is anything that can be made better through change. For example, the time and effort it takes to mow the lawn are problems. Problems can be dangerous. For example, using electrical appliances around water is a dangerous problem. See Figure 9‑9.

Challenges are also problems. A chal-lenge is an obstacle or a goal that needs to be met. An example of a challenge is to safely travel to the planet Mars.

Collecting Information

The next step is to collect information. Inventors research the problem. They learn as much as they can about it. Inventors inter-view experts. They read books, magazines, and academic journals. Good inventors keep notebooks or personal journals. They write down everything they do and learn.

Thinking Creatively

The third step is the use of creative

thinking. Creative thinking requires the

human brain. Only humans have the ability to think in creative ways. Animals are unable to invent devices because they do not have creative minds. Animals act on instinct. Humans use creativity to solve problems. See Figure 9‑10.

In this step, inventors begin to think of solutions. In the first two steps, they focus

only on the problem. The inventors iden-tified and researched the problem. Now they use the results of the research and creativity to design solutions. The inven-tors come up with as many solutions as possible. They make sketches, drawings, charts, and graphs. At the end of this step, the inventors have a few good designs.

Experimenting

The next step is to experiment. In this step, inventors build inventions. They use the drawings created in the last step. It is important that they know how to use tools and machines. The inventors must build models and test them. See Figure 9‑11.

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This is a trial and error process. Inventions often fail at this step, if they do not work or meet the need. When a solution fails, the inventor fixes it and tries again. This step might take weeks or even years.

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Figure 9‑9. The danger of using a hair dryer near water was a problem. To solve the problem, manufacturers use a special plug to help prevent shocks.

Figure 9‑10. Animals build shelters using instinct. Humans use creativity and technology to build homes. (Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Habitat for Humanity International)

Standards for Technological Literacy 1

Extend

Ask the students why it is important that the inventor first identifies the problem.

Discussion

Have the students discuss the difference between a challenge and a problem.

Research

Have the students keep research journals.

Demonstrate

Set up an experiment the students can conduct on an existing product (such as the strength of different sheets of paper, durability of paper towels, or life of batteries).

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Reviewing

The final step is review. After the invention works, inventors review their notebooks. They make sure the invention solves the problem. It is possible to invent a device that does not solve the problem. If the invention does not solve the problem, the inventor starts over again with step one. If it does solve the problem, the invention process is complete. At this point, inven-tors might try to patent their inventions. A

patent is a right given to an inventor of a

new product, design, or plant. This right protects the inventor from others manu-facturing, copying, or selling the invention without the inventor’s permission.

Inventors

The people who use the invention process are known as inventors. Inventors are curious people of all ages. Both chil-dren and adults can invent. Chilchil-dren often make good inventors because they are naturally curious. Alexander Graham Bell and Benjamin Franklin are famous inven-tors known for their curiosity. Benjamin Franklin was curious about lightning and electricity. He flew a kite in a lightning storm to prove that lightning and electricity are related. Alexander Graham Bell was curious about how sound traveled under-water. He went to a lake and placed his

head in the water. His partner then hit two rocks together. They did this at different distances. He found that sound did travel underwater. Bell’s and Franklin’s experi-ments led to major inventions because they were curious people.

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Inventors look at things in their lives. They wonder how they can make things better. Some inventors think about things such as games and hobbies. See

Figure 9‑12. James Naismith did just that. He was a physical education teacher who wanted a game his students could play inside during the winter. This teacher created the game of basketball. Milton Bradley was also an inventor of games. He invented games such as The Game of Life®_{board game.}

Creative and imaginative people are often inventors. Creativity is an impor-tant part of invention. Inventors use their creativity to see situations in new ways. If inventors were not creative, new devices and systems would not be created. The Wright brothers were creative and imagi-native. Orville and Wilber Wright imagined flying. They used their creativity to create the first powered airplane.

Inventors need to have a great deal of knowledge. They must know about the science and mathematics used in their inventions. Samuel Morse invented the telegraph in 1840. See Figure 9‑13. He

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Figure 9‑11. Inventions are tested to make sure they function correctly. (iStockphoto.com/Fertnig)

Figure 9‑12. Sports, such as basketball, are invented for fun and recreation.

Research

Have the students research the life and inventions of an inventor of their choice.

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had to know how to use electricity. Morse also needed technical knowledge. He knew how to use tools to create his inven-tion. Technical knowledge is important for inventors. Many inventors can think of ideas. Some do not have the knowledge of technology to build their inventions.

People who use the invention process must also know about already existing products. James Watt invented the steam engine. He looked at models of steam engines that did not work and took them apart. Watt then discovered why these engines did not work. He built the first working steam engine. Inventors, such as Watt, enjoy taking things apart and finding how things work.

Reasons for Inventing

People invent for three reasons. Some people invent to help themselves and others. The products and systems they develop can be called social inventions. Other people want to make money with their inventions. These inventions are known as financial

inventions. There are other people who

invent because they find it fun. These devices and processes are called leisure

inventions.

Social Inventions

Social inventions are created to help the inventor or other people. They make our lives better and easier. These inven-tions impact society. Social inveninven-tions can be simple, such as a jar opener for the elderly. They can also be complex, such as vaccines for children. The first vaccine was invented to stop smallpox. Edward Jenner invented it to help society. Vaccines are used to control many different diseases. See Figure 9‑14. Social inventions can be created to help better the world. Products invented to cause less harm to the environ-ment are social inventions. Safety devices are social inventions. Seat belts, child seats, and safety guards are also social inventions.

Think Green

Green Materials

Green materials are considered environmentally friendly

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materials that are alternatives to commonly used materials. To define a material as being green, some criteria are: the material must not be created from exhaustible natural resources; it must emit less carbon dioxide emissions than other materials when processed; and it must either be recyclable or be biodegradable. An example of a green material is recycled paper. It doesn’t use new materials, it uses different processing techniques, and it may be recycled again.

Figure 9‑13. Samuel Morse’s telegraph sped up communication. (Jerry E. Howell)

Brainstorm

Have the students discuss what inventors like the Wright Brothers and James Watt would have needed to know to invent their devices.

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Financial Inventions

Most inventions are created to make money. These are called financial

inven-tions. Financial inventions often make

things faster or easier to do. Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin to produce cotton faster. The faster the cotton was produced, the more money the farmers made. The computer and computer software are financial inventions. They help businesses operate faster and more efficiently.

Leisure Inventions

Leisure inventions are created for the pleasure of inventing. Inventors who like to tinker create these. These inventors like to invent as a hobby. Leisure inven-tions include small games and toys. Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist who drew funny leisure inventions. His inventions used many steps to solve simple problems. Leisure inventions are often very creative and are sometimes even patented. See

Figure 9‑15.

Invention Teams

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Social and financial inventions are usually created in teams. Invention teams are used because each team member has different abilities and knowledge. Some people are better at using tools. Others have more scientific knowledge, while others have more mathematical knowledge. Many invention teams work in research labs. See

Figure 9‑16. Thomas Edison created the first research lab in the United States. His research lab was built in Menlo Park, New Jersey. Edison’s researchers helped invent the phonograph and the electric lightbulb. Research labs can be used to invent many things. For example, they are used to invent new materials, electronic equipment, and

Figure 9‑14. Vaccinations are social inventions.

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Figure 9‑15. This leisure invention of a helium-filled sunshade is patented. (Patent No. 5,076,029, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)

Figure 9‑16. The first transistor made from a single material was developed in a research lab. (Lucent Technologies, Inc./Bell Labs)

Standards for Technological Literacy 1 6 1 0

Brainstorm

Ask the students to list the leisure inventions they use every day.

Research

Have the students research the work of Thomas Edison and his teams at Menlo Park.

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Technology Explained

high‑rise building: a multistory residential or commercial building

that has a skeleton frame.

The Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt is a construction marvel, even today. This type of tall structure, however, was not common throughout history. More common than pyramids were the great cathedrals built in Europe. The cathedrals have high, thick stone walls. This type of wall is called a load-bearing wall because it holds all the weight (load) of the roof.

Construction such as this has height limits. Load-bearing walls are not practical in buildings over five stories tall. The walls become too thick and heavy.

In the past, as cities became larger, taller buildings were needed. It took the development of the elevator and the skeleton frame to make tall buildings practical. The elevator allowed people to move quickly between floors without walking up stairs. For example, the Empire State Building’s elevators can move up to 1400′ (427 m) per minute. At this speed, people can travel from the lobby to the 80th floor in 45 seconds.

A skeleton frame carries the weight of the building, very similarly to how the human skeleton carries the body. These developments made high-rise buildings, or skyscrapers, possible. The first high-rise building was built in Chicago in 1885. Built for the Home Insurance Company, it was 10 stories tall. The exterior walls provided protection from the weather. These walls, however, did not carry any load. This type of wall is called a curtain wall because it merely hangs from the frame.

Today, high-rise buildings use two types of framework. The first type is reinforced concrete. See Figure A. This type of framework is cast on-site. Forms are erected around a network of steel rods. The concrete is poured inside the forms. After the concrete has cured, the forms are removed.

The weight of reinforced concrete limits its use to buildings of moderate height. Taller buildings use steel skeletons. Steel is fabricated into angles and I beams. Steel columns and beams are bolted or riveted together. See Figure B. This allows the beams to expand and contract uniformly with temperature changes.

Once the frame is erected, the floor and roof are installed. The exterior walls are then put in place. See Figure C. These walls can be made of steel or aluminum panels, bricks, concrete blocks, sheets of glass, or other materials.

The title of the world’s tallest building passes from skyscraper to skyscraper as new structures are built. The tallest building in the world is currently the Burj Khalifa, built in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2009. There are, however, several skyscrapers in both the planning and construction stages that will be taller. The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest skyscraper in the United States and stands 1450′ high.

Horizontal beam

Wire-mesh reinforcing

Reinforcing rods

Foundation pad

V

er

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tical column

Figure A. The photograph shows

a building under construction. The drawing shows how a reinforced concrete structure is put together.

Figure B. A steel-framed building.

Notice the different shapes of the steel members.

Figure C. The building in this picture is

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medications. Research labs can be found in universities, large companies, and govern-ment agencies.

Innovation

Inventors do not always invent new devices. They often create innovations. Innovation is the process of altering an existing product or system to improve it. Innovations make inventions better. All technological refinement occurs through the process of innovation. Many of the products created today are innovations. Innovations can do several things for the inventions. They can make inventions work better, be less expensive, or be built with better materials. Devices can even be made from several inventions.

Innovations make inventions more useful. They have been made to improve the speed and capacity of computers. These innovations have made the computer more useful. Computers can do more things faster than they could just a few years ago.

Inventions can be made less expen-sive with innovation. Henry Ford innovated the way automobiles are built. His mass production system made automobiles cheaper to buy. More people could afford automobiles because of Henry Ford. Many innovations have changed the way auto-mobiles are manufactured today. Today, most automobile production lines are very automated. See Figure 9‑17.

Innovations can be large or small changes to an invention. An inventor might change the material of the invention. The bicycle has gone through many innova-tions. When the bicycle was invented, it was made of wood. New materials helped to innovate the bicycle. Bicycles have been made of steel, aluminum, and tita-nium. Some bicycles are even made of carbon fiber. These innovations changed

the weight, comfort, and ride of the bicycle. They made bicycles easier to ride.

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Putting two inventions together can also make innovations. In-line skates are an innovation. See Figure 9‑18. They are a combination of shoes and skateboards. Innovations are important to our society.

Figure 9‑17. Current automobile production lines are innovations. (Daimler)

Figure 9‑18. In-line skates are innovations used for fitness and recreation. (Rollerblade)

Extend

Have the students create sketches of an innovation they would find useful.

TechnoFact

ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) was the predecessor of the modern electronic computer. ENIAC, built between 1943 and 1946, filled an entire room and weighed over sixty thousand pounds. Due to inventions and innovations in electronics, materials, and manufacturing, modern computers are much smaller and more capable.

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One type of innovation is adapta-tion. Adaptations are developed when inventions are used for something other than the purposes for which they were intended. Medicines are adapted when they are used to treat ailments besides the one they were meant to cure. The laser is an invention that has been adapted for many different uses. Lasers are used to cut materials, scan grocery items, perform eye surgery, and create interesting light shows. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is known for creating adaptations. NASA has created over 1000 inventions that have been adapted to solve other problems. These adaptations are known as spin-offs. Race-car drivers now use technology from space suits the Apollo astronauts wore. Cordless power tools were first used in space. Even the suits firefighters wear are NASA spin-offs. See Figure 9‑19.

Innovations and adaptations make devices, products, and processes easier to use. They help to make inventions better and more useful. Innovations are an important part of invention.

Summary

Invention is a problem-solving process. Humans have used the process of inven-tion for thousands of years. Inveninven-tions are new and unique devices meeting our needs. The people who create inven-tions are known as inventors. Inventors are creative and imaginative people. They often work together in research labora-tories. Inventors follow the steps of the invention process to create new inven-tions. They also make changes to older inventions. These changes are called

innovations. Adaptations are inventions

used for new purposes. Inventions, inno-vations, and adaptations all help to make life easier.

Many inventions are adapted

to solve problems other than

those for which they were

intended.

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Spin-offs

Figure 9‑19. The protective clothing firefighters wear is a NASA spin-off from the space suit. (NASA)

Research

Have the students identify NASA spin-offs they have used in their own lives.

TechnoFact

NASA spin-offs are used in many areas of life, including food preparation and medical treatment. Freeze-drying and water purification technologies that were first used on the Apollo missions have been adapted for commercial use. Space shuttle fuel pump technology was adapted to create artificial hearts.

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STEM Connections

Science

Choose a scientific discovery (such as electricity, gravity, or friction). Make a list of inventions used to make that discovery. Make a second list of inventions that come from that discovery.

Curricular Connections

Language Arts

Create an invention. Keep an inventor’s log. Use the inventor’s log to write a simple patent application.

Social Studies

Select an industrialized country (such as the United States, Germany, or England). Research the major inventions developed in that country. Create a display presenting the country’s inventions and inventors.

Activities

1. Choose an invention affecting your life (for example, the automobile, telephone, television, or computer). Create a display highlighting the invention. Show the history of the invention and how the invention works.

2. Select a problem in your life or the life of someone in your family. Follow the invention process. Create an invention solving the problem.

3. Research an adaptation, or a spin-off, NASA created. Divide a poster board into two sections. On the first half, list and explain an invention NASA created. On the second half, show how the invention has been adapted and how it is used today.

Test Your Knowledge

Do not write in this book. Place your answers to this test on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Paraphrase the definition of invention.

2. Describe why the Industrial Revolution was important to the history of invention. 3. How are discoveries different from inventions?

4. List the three types of inventions.

5. Accidental inventions are the most common type. True or false?

6. Rewrite, in your own words, a definition for the word problem, as it relates to the invention process.

7. The invention process is the only problem-solving process. True or false? 8. The invention process has a set of steps. True or false?

9. Summarize three characteristics of inventors.

10. An invention created to help people is a(n) _____ invention. 11. What type of invention is created to increase profits?

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Curriculum

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Scienc e Technolo

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Mathema tics Engineer

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Answers

Answers to Test Your Knowledge questions are located on page T89.

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12. An invention created for fun is a(n) _____ invention.

13. Today, teams of inventors create most social and financial inventions. True or false? 14. A(n) _____ is an improvement on an invention.

15. Select the phrase best describing an adaptation.

A. A new and unique product or system created with imagination and knowledge. B. An improvement on an already existing invention.

C. The initial realization of a natural occurrence.

D. An invention used for something other than the purpose for which it was intended.

Reading Organizer

Draw a bubble diagram for each main idea in the chapter. Make each of the main ideas the central bubble, while using details in smaller bubbles to surround the main points. An example from this chapter is shown.

Invention

Process

Discovery Categories Devices and

Machines

Products

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Chapter 9 Activity A

Invention and Innovation

The Challenge

Create a poster board explaining an invention and showing inventions that led up to it and inventions that have come from it.

Introduction

New inventions and innovations are created every day. You might never encounter some of them. There are many inventions, however, that most of us use all the time. These inventions have become part of our daily lives. Eventually, many of these inven-tions, as great as they are right now, will become outdated. For example, it is impractical to use the telegraph for long-distance communication today. It is important, however, to understand that the invention of the telegraph led to other inventions we rely on today. In this activity, you will examine an invention used today.

Equipment and Supplies

• Poster board.

• Library or Internet sources.

• A printer.

• Markers or colored pencils.

• Tape or glue.

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Procedure

1. Select one of the following inventions: the telephone, television, printing press, automobile, airplane, telescope, laser, or single-lens reflex (SLR) camera. 2. Using the library or Internet, research your invention in order to answer the

following questions:

• Who invented the product?

• When was it invented?

• Why was it invented?

• What inventions led up to this invention?

• How does the invention work?

• What are the impacts (positive and negative) of the invention?

• What inventions have come from your invention?

• Was the invention patented?

3. Create a display (poster board) answering the research questions. 4. Present your display to the rest of the class.

Challenging Your Learning

Create a model of the invention.

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Inventions and Innovations

TSA Modular Activity

This activity develops the skills used in TSA’s Inventions and Innovations event.

Activity Overview

In this activity, you will investigate and determine the need for an invention, develop an idea for the invention, and then present your idea using a stand-alone multimedia presenta-tion; a documentation notebook; a model, or prototype; and an oral presentation.

Materials

• Presentation software.

• A three-ring binder with 8 1/2″× 11″ pages.

• Materials for the model, or prototype (will vary greatly).

Background Information

Selection. Before selecting the theme for your project, consider past inventions and innovations and current needs in each of the major divisions of technology:

• Medicine.

• Agriculture and biotechnology.

• Energy and power.

• Information and communication.

• Transportation.

• Manufacturing.

• Construction.

Use brainstorming techniques to identify several possible inventions and innovations from each area. Select an idea for a final invention to meet an identified need. The invention can be completely new, or it can be an improvement to an existing device, system, or process.

Design. Research issues and gather information about the identified need. Work on the design and details of the final invention. Design and construct a model, or prototype, and visual aids that can be used to enhance the presentations.

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Documentation. Determine a format for documenting information in a stand-alone multimedia presentation. Develop a stand-alone multimedia presentation and an accom-panying documentation notebook. Prepare an oral presentation further explaining the invention.

Guidelines

• The invention should be realistic and have the potential to be workable.

• The multimedia presentation must be between two and four minutes long. This presentation must be self-explanatory. The multimedia presentation should show the development of the idea of the final invention.

• The oral presentation should not be longer than five minutes. The model, or prototype, must be part of this presentation. The goal of this presentation is to convince the audience that the invention is needed and has real potential.

• The following items must be included in your documentation notebook:

• A cover sheet.

• The title, or name, of the identified need and a brief description.

• The title, or name, of the invention and a brief description.

• Photos of the model, or prototype, of the invention.

• Relevant information about the stand-alone multimedia presentation.

• The following items must be included in your multimedia presentation:

• The title of the invention.

• The identified need and information about it.

• Information about the design and brainstorming processes.

• Information about the invention, including the model.

• An assessment of the invention and its potential for being a workable device, system, or process.

Evaluation Criteria

Your project will be evaluated using the following criteria:

• The effectiveness of the multimedia presentation and documentation notebook to document your work as you investigated and developed an idea for an invention.

• The effectiveness of the oral presentation to convince the audience that the invention is needed, is workable, and has the potential for a return on investment.