Definitions

Many of the words and concepts used in the Engineering Change Lab’s work have a range of meanings. These definitions are intended to provide a common reference for our discussions.  Noting differences in how people hear and understand words is an important way of reflecting on the current/desired state of the system and how we can best bring about change.

Technology

In its broadest sense, technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants.  Technology comprises the entire system of people and organizations, knowledge, processes, and devices that go into creating and operating technological artifacts, as well as the artifacts themselves.  (Technically Speaking, Committee on Technological Literacy, National Academy of Engineering, 2002),

Technological vs. Technical

The two terms are related.  Technological is of, relating to or involving or caused by technology, especially modern scientific technology, while technical is of or pertaining to the useful or mechanical arts, or to any academic, legal, science, engineering, business, or the like terminology with specific or precise meanings or shades of meanings. (http://www.wikidiff.com/technical/technological)

STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics

Source: STEM Integration in K-12 Education: Status, Prospects, and an Agenda for Research, Committee on Integrated STEM Education, Margaret Honey, Greg Pearson, and Heidi Schweingruber, editors, National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council, National Academies Press, 2014.

Science

The study of the natural world, including the laws of nature associated with physics, chemistry, and biology and the treatment or application of facts, principles, concepts, or conventions associated with these disciplines. Science is both a body of knowledge that has been accumulated over time and a process—scientific inquiry—that generates new knowledge. Knowledge from science informs the engineering design process.

  • Technology, while not a discipline in the strictest sense, comprises the entire system of people and organizations, knowledge, processes, and devices that go into creating and operating technological artifacts, as well as the artifacts themselves. Throughout history, humans have created technology to satisfy their wants and needs. Much of modern technology is a product of science and engineering, and technological tools are used in both fields.
  • Engineering is both a body of knowledge—about the design and creation of human-made products—and a process for solving problems. This process is design under constraint. One constraint in engineering design is the laws of nature, or science. Other constraints include time, money, available materials, ergonomics, environmental regulations, manufacturability, and reparability. Engineering utilizes concepts in science and mathematics as well as technological tools.
  • Mathematics is the study of patterns and relationships among quantities, numbers, and space. Unlike in science, where empirical evidence is sought to warrant or overthrow claims, claims in mathematics are warranted through logical arguments based on foundational assumptions. The logical arguments themselves are part of mathematics along with the claims. As in science, knowledge in mathematics continues to grow, but unlike in science, knowledge in mathematics is not overturned, unless the foundational assumptions are transformed. Specific conceptual categories of K–12 mathematics include numbers and arithmetic, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Mathematics is used in science, engineering, and technology.

DEFINITIONS – Innovation

  • Innovation is defined simply as a “new idea, device, or method”.  However, innovation is often also viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing market needs.  This is accomplished through more-effective products, processes, services, technologies, or business models that are readily available to markets,governments and society. The term “innovation” can be defined as something original and more effective and, as a consequence, new, that “breaks into” the market or society.  (Wikipedia, 2016)
  • Disruptive Innovations are innovations that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market leaders and alliances.  More recent sources also include “significant societal impact” as an aspect of disruptive innovation.  (Wikipedia, 2016)
  • Technological Innovation is the process through which new (or improved) technologies are developed and brought into widespread use. In the simplest formulation, innovation can be thought of as being composed of research, development, demonstration, and deployment, although it is abundantly clear that innovation is not a linear process – there are various interconnections and feedback loops between these stages.  (Wikipedia, 2016)

Social Innovations are new strategies, concepts, ideas and organizations that meet the social needs of different elements which can be from working conditions and education to community development and health — they extend and strengthen civil society. Social innovation includes the social processes of innovation, such as open source methods and techniques and also the innovations which have a social purpose — like microcredit or distance learning.  (Wikipedia, 2016)

As opposed to trying to definitions are an attempt to provide a common reference for our discussions.

Technology

In its broadest sense, technology is the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants.  Technology comprises the entire system of people and organizations, knowledge, processes, and devices that go into creating and operating technological artifacts, as well as the artifacts themselves.  (Technically Speaking, Committee on Technological Literacy, National Academy of Engineering, 2002),

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Technological vs. Technical

  • The two terms are related.  Technological is of, relating to or involving or caused by technology, especially modern scientific technology, while technical is of or pertaining to the useful or mechanical arts, or to any academic, legal, science, engineering, business, or the like terminology with specific or precise meanings or shades of meanings. (http://www.wikidiff.com/technical/technological)

DEFINITION – Technological vs. Technical

  • The two terms are related.  Technological is of, relating to or involving or caused by technology, especially modern scientific technology, while technical is of or pertaining to the useful or mechanical arts, or to any academic, legal, science, engineering, business, or the like terminology with specific or precise meanings or shades of meanings. (http://www.wikidiff.com/technical/technological)

DEFINITIONS – STEM

Source: STEM Integration in K-12 Education: Status, Prospects, and an Agenda for Research, Committee on Integrated STEM Education, Margaret Honey, Greg Pearson, and Heidi Schweingruber, editors, National Academy of Engineering and National Research Council, National Academies Press, 2014.

  • Science is the study of the natural world, including the laws of nature associated with physics, chemistry, and biology and the treatment or application of facts, principles, concepts, or conventions associated with these disciplines. Science is both a body of knowledge that has been accumulated over time and a process—scientific inquiry—that generates new knowledge. Knowledge from science informs the engineering design process.
  • Technology, while not a discipline in the strictest sense, comprises the entire system of people and organizations, knowledge, processes, and devices that go into creating and operating technological artifacts, as well as the artifacts themselves. Throughout history, humans have created technology to satisfy their wants and needs. Much of modern technology is a product of science and engineering, and technological tools are used in both fields.
  • Engineering is both a body of knowledge—about the design and creation of human-made products—and a process for solving problems. This process is design under constraint. One constraint in engineering design is the laws of nature, or science. Other constraints include time, money, available materials, ergonomics, environmental regulations, manufacturability, and reparability. Engineering utilizes concepts in science and mathematics as well as technological tools.
  • Mathematics is the study of patterns and relationships among quantities, numbers, and space. Unlike in science, where empirical evidence is sought to warrant or overthrow claims, claims in mathematics are warranted through logical arguments based on foundational assumptions. The logical arguments themselves are part of mathematics along with the claims. As in science, knowledge in mathematics continues to grow, but unlike in science, knowledge in mathematics is not overturned, unless the foundational assumptions are transformed. Specific conceptual categories of K–12 mathematics include numbers and arithmetic, algebra, functions, geometry, and statistics and probability. Mathematics is used in science, engineering, and technology.

DEFINITIONS – Innovation

  • Innovation is defined simply as a “new idea, device, or method”.  However, innovation is often also viewed as the application of better solutions that meet new requirements, unarticulated needs, or existing market needs.  This is accomplished through more-effective products, processes, services, technologies, or business models that are readily available to markets,governments and society. The term “innovation” can be defined as something original and more effective and, as a consequence, new, that “breaks into” the market or society.  (Wikipedia, 2016)
  • Disruptive Innovations are innovations that creates a new market and value network and eventually disrupts an existing market and value network, displacing established market leaders and alliances.  More recent sources also include “significant societal impact” as an aspect of disruptive innovation.  (Wikipedia, 2016)
  • Technological Innovation is the process through which new (or improved) technologies are developed and brought into widespread use. In the simplest formulation, innovation can be thought of as being composed of research, development, demonstration, and deployment, although it is abundantly clear that innovation is not a linear process – there are various interconnections and feedback loops between these stages.  (Wikipedia, 2016)

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