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Design and Technology

Examination

2001 Design and Technology HSC examination

Extracts from Design and Technology HSC Examination © Board of Studies NSW 2001.

Below are a selection of questions from the 2001 Design and technology HSC examination which require applying knowledge from different aspects of the course.

Only the selected parts of questions have been reproduced here. Visit the Board of Studies NSW web site for the full examination .

Notice that each of the questions begins with a term from the Board of Studies' glossary of keywords. You need to familiarise yourself with these terms in order to answer questions accurately.

Section II

11. d) (ii) Explain, using an example, ONE factor that has impacted on the success of an innovative product you have studied. (2 marks)

Explain: Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how.

For this part of the question you need to show the effect of one significant factor on the success of an innovative product. It is not enough to identify the factor. You need to give reasons (the how and why) that factor had an impact. Try to relate cause and effect.

Section III

12. c) Analyse how social change and new technology have influenced the design of the hand blender OR another product that you are familiar with. Give examples to support your answer. (8 marks) Note: an image of the hand blender was provided.

Analyse: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications.

This part of the question is worth eight marks. Plan your response before you start writing. Highlight the key words, such as, analyse, social change, new technology, influenced. The question offers you the option of referring to a hand blender or a product you are familiar with. Choose a product that you are familiar with or refer to the hand blender.

Then identify two or more social changes and two or more new technologies that have influenced the design of the object you have chosen. Clearly show how these factors have had a positive or negative influence on the current design of the chosen object by using specific examples.

13. In the early 1960s the AT&T company developed the 'Touch-Tone' push-button dialling technology for phones. In order to make sure the consumers would accept the new technology, the research and development group had to research the likes and dislikes of the users. The most important areas that needed to be investigated included:

Button patterns
Button size and shape
Button spacing
Springiness of the buttons.

For ONE of the areas listed above:

…
…
Analyse the ethical considerations when collecting, storing and using market research data. Give examples to support your answer. (8 marks)

This part of the question is worth eight marks. Plan your response before you start writing. Highlight the keywords: analyse, ethical considerations, collecting, storing, using, market research. Relate your answer to one of the areas listed above.

Identify the ethical considerations when:
1. collecting data
2. storing data
3. using data.
  
  You will need at least one or two examples to support each aspect of the question.

14. Communication and the nature of the information age are rapidly changing. Technologies that were previously considered advanced are becoming commonplace and new and emerging technologies are revolutionising the way in which we approach everyday tasks.

Identify a new or emerging technology, and describe features that distinguish it from existing technology.(3 marks)

Identify: Recognise and name.

Describe: Provide characteristics and features.

Distinguish: Recognise or note/indicate as being distinct or different from; to note difference between.
This is a three-part question. To identify is to name, so you need to name a new or emerging technology.

To gain more marks however you need to provide two or more features of the technology and indicate how it is different from an existing technology.
Explain the likely social and economic impacts of this new or emerging technology. (4 marks)

Explain: Relate cause and effect; make the relationships between things evident; provide why and/or how.
For this question you need to show the effect of the technology selected on soceity and the economy. Think about what the question is asking. Clearly divide your answer into social impacts, and economic impacts, at least two of each. Give reasons (the how and why) for each. Try to relate cause and effect.
Analyse the important factors that would need to be involved in moving emerging technologies into a successful innovation in the marketplace. Give examples to illustrate your answer. (8 marks)

Analyse: Identify components and the relationship between them; draw out and relate implications.
This question is worth eight marks. You will need to identify several factors to illustrate your response. Questions requiring analysis are more complex questions and require more thinking and planning.

Plan your response before you start writing. Highlight the key words: analyse, factors, moving emerging technologies, innovation, marketplace.

Identify the important factors and explain the relationship of them to successful innovation, giving at least one example for each factor you identify.

Click here to view Notes on the 2001 HSC examination.