Section A - New and emerging technologies Industry, enterprise, sustainability

Question 1

Name some jobs that a robot might do in a production line

Answer 1

Welding
Spray painting
Packaging
Labelling
Product inspection
Pick-and-place tasks
Assembly tasks

Question 2

What do automated machines do

Answer 2

Automated machines are programmed to carry out a procedure multiple times

Question 3

State the advantages of robots carrying out repetitive tasks in factories / automated systems

Answer 3

They perform tasks with high speed

They perform tasks with high precision

They produce products of a consistent high quality at a low cost because of the numbers of products they can produce quickly

Question 4

Who is now carrying out repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines

Answer 4

Repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines are now frequently carried out by robots

Question 5

What is the advantage for human operators that robots are now carrying out repetitive tasks in mechanised assembly lines

Answer 5

This relieves human operators of these monotonous and often tedious tasks

Question 6

How is it possible that repettive tasks in mechanised assembly lines are now frequently carried out by robots

Answer 6

This is possible due to the development of computers and processors to control the robots and mechanised areas of factories

Question 7

State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories

Answer 7

They are very expensive to set up

They require a
specialist workforce

If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly

Question 8

How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised

Answer 8

The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.

Question 9

What is crowdfunding

Answer 9

Crowdfunding is a method of funding a project by raising money from large numbers of people.

It uses websites to advertise products as investment opportunities, where people can choose to back a project with a financial donation if they think it will be viable.

Lots of people make small contributions, choosing to invest in
interesting ideas.

Designers can raise large amounts of money to finance their project.

Backers are often rewarded with free gifts, discounts or a pre-agreed part of any profits if the product is successful.

Question 10

How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised

Answer 10

The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.

Question 11

What is virtual marketing and retail

Answer 11

Virtual marketing and retail include advertising a product or service (increase brand awareness) using popular websites and social media.

It does this by getting websites or users to pass on marketing messages to other websites and users. This hugely increases the messages visibility and effect

A wide range of people can be reached.

Celebrities or influencers promote products or brands through social media posts, blogs and vlogs.

Adverts can be posted on popular sites.

Websites can complete search engines optimisation to ensure they are more visible on keyword searches.

Question 12

What is a co-operative

Answer 12

A business owned, governed and self-managed by its workers.

Work-owners work in the business, govern it and manage it, they set production schedules and determine working conditions.

In most worker co-operatives, all shares are held by the workforce with no outside or consumer owners.

Question 13

What types of co-operatives have grown out of new technologies

Answer 13

Tech co-operatives have grown out of new technologies

Question 14

State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories

Answer 14

They are very expensive to set up

They require a
specialist workforce

If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly

Question 15

Give some examples of people who benefit from it

Answer 15

Fairtrade Cotton – Cotton farmers are paid a living wage which
allows them to survive and earn enough money to feed their
families.

• Communities are often given help in setting up local amenities
  such as schools, wells etc.

For people who work in banana plantations, the owners of these plantations and the local communities around, benefit from fair trade.

Question 16

Define sustainability

Answer 16

Meeting present-day needs without compromising the needs of future generations

Question 17

Finite resources are not _____

Answer 17

Finite resources are not sustainable

Question 18

Two types of resources

Answer 18

Finite resource
Non-finite resource

Question 19

Define finite resource

Answer 19

A finite resource is a resource that does not renew itself quickly enough to meet the needs of future generations.

Question 20

Examples of finite resources

Answer 20

Coal, Oil and natural gas

Question 21

Give an example of a new technology designed to extract gas and oil from shale rock

Answer 21

Hydraulic fracturing or fracking

Question 22

What is hydraulic fracturing/fracking

Answer 22

A new technology designed to extract gas and oil from shale rock

Question 23

Fracking has an impact on the _____

Answer 23

Fracking has an impact on the environment

Question 24

Define non-finite resource

Answer 24

Non-finite resources are resources that replenish quickly enough to meet our needs

Question 25

Example of non-finite resources

Answer 25

Water Wood Wool Cotton Renewable energy resources (solar, geothermal, wind power)

Question 26

Non-finite resources are _____

Answer 26

Non-finite resources are sustainable

Question 27

What have technological advancements allowed us to do with these renewable resources

Answer 27

Technological advancements have allowed us to use these renewable resources more effectively and to generate more energy from them, reducing our reliance on finite resources

Question 28

How can a designer can reduce the environmental impact at each stage of the life cycle of a product

Answer 28

Using low-impact materials Conserving resources by using recycled materials Reducing material usage Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use Ensuring a prolonged lifetime Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of their lifetime

Question 29

What do all of these factors contribute to reducing: Using low-impact materials Conserving resources by using recycled materials Reducing material usage Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use Ensuring a prolonged lifetime Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of their lifetime

Answer 29

All these factors contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of the product

Question 30

What is the ecological footprint

Answer 30

The ecological footprint is the impact of a person or community on the environment; the amount of land needed to supply the natural resources they use

Question 31

What factors can contribute to reducing the ecological footprint of a product

Answer 31

Using low-impact materials Conserving resources by using recycled materials Reducing material usage Designing products that use less or no energy when the product is in use Ensuring a prolonged lifetime Making sure materials and components can be easily recycled and recovered at the end of the

Question 32

Define social footprint

Answer 32

The social footprint is the impact a company or an organisation has on people and communities

Question 33

What do companies with good social footprints do

Answer 33

Companies have a responsibility to consider human rights and working conditions of their workforce Companies with good social footprint take care of their workers, in terms of health and safety, workforce equality, child labour and wider social issues that affect communities in their supply chains

Question 34

What is a landfill site

Answer 34

A landfill site is a place where waste is buried underground

Question 35

What is the most common method of organised waste disposal

Answer 35

Landfill has been the most common of organised waste disposal

Question 36

Describe the process of disposal of waste by landfill

Answer 36

Putting waste into the ground and burying it. Disposal of waste by landfill

Question 37

State the problems of landfill sites

Answer 37

Landfill sites can cause pollution of the local environment such as contamination of groundwater or soil. Decaying organic waste (on the landfill sites) generates methane gas (a greenhouse gas which is flammable and can be explosive) Bad smell coming from the sites Effects on local wildlife Noise pollution - which can lead to reduced property prices

Question 38

What is resource recovery

Answer 38

Resource recovery is a process that recovers certain disposed materials for specific use

Question 39

Give examples of resource recovery

Answer 39

Some resources can be recycled Some composed ans some used for energy generation

Question 40

What is the impact of waste recycling- when used in resource recovery

Answer 40

Waste recycling reduces the use of newly created materials

Question 41

What is the impact of composting

Answer 41

Composting and energy generation reduces landfill and gives further use to materials

Question 42

Define energy generation

Answer 42

Energy generation is often referred to as energy recovery

Question 43

What is incineration

Answer 43

Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves burning waste materials

Question 44

Benefits of incineration as a waste treatment process

Answer 44

Incineration reduces the mass of waste by up to 85 per cent, therefore significantly reducing the volume of landfill

Question 45

Disadvantages of performing incineration as a waste treatment process

Answer 45

Pollutants in the gas emissions from incinerators, including large amounts carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) are being discharged into the atmosphere

Question 52

What is fair trade

Answer 52

Fair trade is a movement that aims to achieve fair and better trading conditions and opportunities that promote sustainability for developing countries The need for fair trade & what work it does: To ensure that workers in developing countries get a fair price for their work and products. Improving working conditions for workers and their families in developing countries. Improving education and access to social care in developing countries

Question 53

How is the modern automated manufacturing workplace designed and organised

Answer 53

The modern automated workplace is designed and organised to make sure that people get the products they want, in the correct numbers and when they want them.

Question 54

State the disadvantages of robots/automated systems carrying out repetitive tasks in factories

Answer 54

They are very expensive to set up They require a specialist workforce If the system breaks down it can be extremely costly