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Sketch Solution |
Activity 5.1.1: Documenting
work on a project is so important when communicating how you
derived at a solution. Often inventions or innovations that
are produced for the consumer, needs all the proper
documentation so the manufacturer or individual can claim
the rights to the product. This was intrduced and touched on
in previous lessons over patents, innovation, and
invention.
At this stage in
product design, the team has identified a technical problem
and the best solution for that problem. The team has also
used a variety of parameters to refine the solution prior to
creating rough sketches representing that solution. Now it’s
time to communicate the information in a more formal manner
in order to prepare for the building phase.
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Design
Parameters and Technical Drawing |
Activity 5.1.2: The
earliest known technical drawing in existence is the plan view
of a fortress drawn by a Chaldean engineer named Gudea. The
drawing was engraved upon a stone tablet. When that first
drawing is compared to modern drawings, it is amazing to note
how similar the drawings are in detail. Later in 30 B.C., a
Roman architect named Vitruvius wrote an architectural treatise
that stated, “An architect must be skilled with the pencil and
have a knowledge of drawing so that he can readily make the
drawings required to show the appearance of the work he proposes
to construct.” To say that we have come a long way since drawing
on stone tablets is an understatement; yet, the truth remains
that a designer must be skilled enough to portray his or her
idea so that it is understandable.
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Expert Feedback |
Activity
5.1.3: When does a person become an expert in a
particular field of study? It has been said that if a person
reads three books on any one subject, they can be considered
an expert in the field. Would you feel comfortable with a
doctor performing open heart or brain surgery on you after
only reading three books on the subject? Or how about
climbing into an airplane that was designed by an engineer
who had only read about airplane design?
Most professions
that deal with safety and health issues have certification
exams that attest to their knowledge and skill base. Doctors
must pass numerous board exams to be able to practice
medicine, engineers must pass professional exams to sign off
on projects that impact the safety of others, accountants
must pass an exam to become certified accountants, teachers
must pass competency exams to be able to practice the art of
teaching, and the list goes on.
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