Lesson video

Hello.

Thank you for joining me for your design and technology lesson.

My name is Mrs. Conway and I'm going to be guiding you through your learning today.

So today's lesson outcome is: I can explain how and why industries modify products for improvement.

And the key words for this lesson are: modify, continuous improvement, market pull and technology push.

I'll go through each one of those in a little bit more detail as we work through the lesson.

First thing we're gonna look at then is how industries modify products.

So industries modify products to enhance their function as well as their appearance, durability, efficiency, or even cost-effectiveness.

To modify something means making small changes for improvement, and the example below just shows how data storage has been modified.

So some of these you may be aware of, some of them might be a little bit different to what you are aware of, but originally, storage was done on a floppy disc.

And you can see that's got 1.

44 megabytes there.

They then developed onto using CDs, and CDs had 600 megabytes, so we've got an increase in megabytes here.

Then we go onto the memory stick or sometimes called a pen drive, and again, we're increasing, we're now to one gigabyte, so a lot more.

It's also more efficient and also can't be damaged as easily.

Before, of course, we can then go onto and have moved on to using the cloud.

Now obviously, when we're using the cloud, we have a lot more potential storage on there.

Each one of those has been developed and modified over time to improve data storage.

Now modifications can involve small little tweaks such as changes or improvements in materials or major redesigns such as new product versions.

And businesses modify their products as part of what's called continuous improvement, which is where they're constantly refining products over time.

And what that allows is it allows the companies to remain really competitive by selling innovative products.

So even something as simple as the humble paperclip, even something as simple as that can be modified to include eye-catching colours or non-stick coatings or even different shapes to make sure they're remaining competitive and selling.

Now industries modify their products in various different ways.

So it may be by the material, for example, they might be looking at material that's more sustainable or improving the durability or the weight of the material.

It may be that they look at the manufacturing processes, so they might be trying to make it more efficient or use automation.

The aesthetics may be modified as well, looking at things such as colour, style and form, or the safety of the product, and maybe that's to keep up with any changes in the law or in case they've had any issues with product recalls.

Technology is obviously constantly evolving and changing and a modification to a product may be to upgrade the technology in their product and to keep up with new inventions.

And also something such as ergonomics.

They might be trying to improve or modify their product to make it more user-friendly or more comfortable following feedback or continuous use of the product.

All of these are different areas that modifications can take place within.

Let's just do a quick check for understanding on that then.

Which of the following is not a common way industries modify products? Is it A, changing materials for improved durability, B, upgrading features for better performance, C, removing all safety features to cut costs, or D, using advanced manufacturing methods for efficiency.

Pause the video here just to take a moment to think about your answer.

Right, and the correct answer was of course, C.

Removing all safety features to cut costs would not be an improvement or a modification.

This would not be a way to actually make the product better, but in fact it could be argued that this would be worse.

So continuous improvement ensures products stay relevant, functional, and also competitive.

And small changes can reduce waste, lower costs, and enhance the user experience.

Some modifications are planned by the manufacturer.

They're aware of future modifications that will come in place and they can put into new versions of their products while others result from actual customer feedback or new laws and regulations that come into play.

So here's an example here.

A UK law has modified plastic bags by shifting from wasteful to eco-friendly alternatives.

So that move away from those kind of the plastic carrier bags and actually trying to think about how to actually make more eco-friendly alternatives, looking at compostable bags or bags for life as an improvement.

So let's look at phones as well.

Phones have evolved from simple calling devices to really multifunctional smart devices and they're a great example of a product that has had continuous improvement and also loads of modifications put in place.

Let's look at some examples of those modifications.

They include things such as larger screens for better usability, stronger materials, faster processes, and also better cameras.

Now some of this is actually down to technology evolving under them actually being able to improve the phones by the technology enabling them and giving the opportunity to put better things into those phones.

Right, let's just do a quick check for understanding on that.

What is a key reason industries make continuous improvements to products? Is it A, to make the product less functional, B, to stay competitive in the market, C, to increase production time, or D, to avoid selling any new products.

Pause the video just to take a moment to think about your answer.

The correct answer was B.

So the key reason that industries make those continuous improvements to products is to stay competitive in the market.

That's really important to the companies.

Okay, it's gonna be over to you now to have a go at a task.

You're going to choose a product from the following.

So either a light bulb, games console or bicycle.

You can choose.

And you're going to explain two ways that your chosen product has been modified and how these changes have improved it.

Think about it in terms of historical context.

How have these products or how is that one product you've chosen been modified and improved over the years? Secondly then, you're going to suggest one way your chosen product could be modified in the future.

That's a bit of a harder question, but see what you can come up with.

Use your creativity and your innovation to have a go at some ideas there.

Okay, it's gonna be over to you now.

So pause the video here to have a go at this task and good luck.

Okay, how did you get on with that task then? The second part of it was tricky, but let's look at the first part.

So I asked you to explain two ways your chosen product has been modified and how these changes have improved it.

Now, if you chose the light bulb, some of the things you may have gone with, or could have gone with are they've become more energy efficient, they last longer, and also there are different colours and brightness levels that have been introduced bulbs as well.

You could also have gone for maybe something like safety has improved as well.

If you went for the games console, you may have looked into the enhanced graphics, online multiplayer opportunities or even cloud gaming.

And if you went for the bicycle, you may have looked into electrical assist, the lighter weight frames or also better suspension.

You may have others that I've not included there.

Those are just some examples that you may have included.

So just compare your answers to the one on the screen.

So Alex here has just explained, "Early light bulbs had a short lifespan and weren't that bright.

They were modified by using LEDs and LEDs are brighter and last longer too." He's just explained that in a little bit more detail for us.

The second part of the question was to suggest one way your chosen product could be modified in the future.

Again, here is just some examples, but you might have different ideas.

So if it was the light bulb, smart lighting systems may have also been included or considered.

And energy optimization, constantly looking at ways to improve energy consumption.

Games console, you might have looked into AI gaming, or also modular upgrades as well.

And for the bicycle, you might have looked at how to make it autonomous and also smart safety features.

Again, these are just some ideas and you may have got completely different ones and that's fine.

Lucas here has just described his, "Instead of buying a new console every few years, players would be able to upgrade components a bit like a PC, and this would extend the lifespan of the consoles and reduce electronic waste." So that would improve the sustainability of getting consoles there.

Okay, we're next gonna look at why industries modify products.

So industries modify products for several key reasons.

We've already considered one already, but let's look at some more.

So to meet customers' needs and wants, this is the one we've already considered, to stay competitive in the market.

To comply with regulations, to reduce costs or increase efficiency, to be more sustainable.

Now these factors ensure that companies can innovate whilst also responding to the market demands and also the challenges that that market brings as well.

Modifications are usually made in response to consumer needs and wants.

By responding to consumer needs and wants, we're actually making sure that our product is going to be sellable because if we're actually doing something that we know the consumer wants, then most likely they're more likely to buy it.

Now this is called market pull and companies focus on existing problems or desires and work to address them through product design such as, for example, the bagless vacuum cleaner.

Here's an example, some eco-friendly packaging, which became more common as consumers really demanded that from their packaging.

They realised that actually, that needed to improve from a sustainable point of view, and so companies responded to that.

Let's just do quick check for understanding on market pull then.

What is the main reason industries modify products in response to market pull? Is it A, to reduce manufacturing costs, B, to introduce new technologies, C, to comply with government regulations, or D, to meet customer needs and wants.

Pause this video.

Take a moment to think about your answer.

The correct answer was D.

So the main reason industries modify products in response to market pull is to meet the customer needs and wants.

The market is pulling the industry or the manufacturers along with them with what they need and what they want.

So industries often create new products or modifications that did not exist before, introducing solutions that consumers may not even have known they wanted.

Now this is called technology push.

So this is different to market pull.

Market pull, the consumers are kind of in charge and leading the way.

In technology push, the industries are actually leading the way and kind of almost like dragging the consumer with them or persuading them that this is what they want.

And companies invest money in research and development that develops products based on new technologies and advancements in technologies, which is then pushed onto the market.

Okay, so that technology push, they're pushing those technology advancements onto the market and saying, you definitely want this, you really need this.

Example of this would be the development of smartphones, which was driven by advancements in processing power and also touchscreen technology.

Let's just do a quick check for understanding then on technology push.

Which of the following best describes technology push? A, A company develops a new technology and applies it to a product before consumer demand exists, B, consumers request a specific feature leading to product modifications, C, governments create new laws that force industries to change their products, or D, companies remove features from products to reduce costs.

Pause the video to take a moment to think about your answer.

And the correct answer, it was A, so technology pushes when a company develops a new technology and applies it to a product before consumer demand exists.

Otherwise, that would be market pull.

So market pull is demanded by the consumers and technology push is innovation driven by the companies.

Modifications from market pull or technology push, however, allow companies to stay ahead of their competitors, which is important for a crowded and busy market.

Remember, they're trying to stay competitive.

Now sometimes products can be modified and as a result of market pull and technology push.

So for example, an electric car.

So consumers really wanted sustainable transport solutions and companies were also at the same time developing eco-friendly alternatives.

So those two worked harmoniously together, that market pull and the technology push to create and modify the improved product.

Now companies must modify their products to also comply with regulations set by governments or industry.

So for example, the WEEE Directive, the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment, is a UK and EU law that requires manufacturers to responsibly recycle and reduce electronic waste from products such as computers.

And regulatory changes often push for safer or more sustainable products.

That's a good thing.

We're going in the right direction and these changes are constantly trying and challenging companies to be more sustainable, which is as it should be.

So the WEEE Directive logo you may have seen before, and this is on packaging of many electronic goods.

Okay, another quick check for understanding then.

Why do industries modify products to comply with regulations? Is it A, to meet customer needs, B, to increase market share, C, to meet safety, environmental or quality standards, or D, to reduce manufacturing costs.

Once again, feel free to pause the video just to take a moment to think about your answer.

The correct answer then was C.

So industries modify products to comply with regulations just to make sure they meet safety, environmental or quality standards.

So product modifications often aim to reduce production costs or increase efficiency as well.

Now this can involve things like using cheaper materials, automating production or simplifying designs.

Now modifications such as lightweight materials or aerodynamic shapes in cars and aeroplanes really help to reduce fuel consumption and also increase efficiency.

These are really good reasons to actually modify a product.

They're trying to make sure that that efficiency increases.

Industries modify products also to be more sustainable and reduce their environmental impact.

Sustainability often drives product design changes such as using recyclable materials, reducing packaging, or creating more energy-efficient products.

So an example of that that you might find frustrating, but I'm sure we'll get used to it, is those plastic bottle caps that are now attached to bottles.

That's been done to purposely reduce litter and improve recycling efficiency.

Bottles were getting recycled, bottle tops and caps were not.

By keeping them attached, it means that that bottle can with along with the cap, can be much more easily recycled and we weren't missing all of those little bottle caps that were getting lost in that recycling process.

Okay, check for understanding again.

What is an example of a modification made for sustainability? A redesigning a product to be more colourful, B, using recyclable materials for packaging, C, adding more features to a product, or D, reducing the price of a product.

Pause video to take a moment to think about your answer.

And the correct answer, using recyclable materials for packaging.

That is an example of a modification made for sustainability.

Well done if you got that right.

It is gonna be over to you now then.

I'd like you to explain one reason why industries modify products and the outcome of this modification.

I'd like you to use an example of a product to support your answer.

That's the first part of your task.

The second part of your task then.

I'd like you to choose a product that has been modified over time.

I'd then like you to explain whether the modification was driven by market pull, if you remember, that was consumer demand, or technology push, which is led by new innovations or advancements in technology.

I'd then like you to describe how the product was modified and why this change was necessary.

Okay, good luck with this task.

Pause the video here to have a go at this.

Right, how did you get on? Let's look at what you might have written.

So the first thing I wanted you to do was to explain one reason why industries modify products and the outcome of this modification.

And I asked you to use an example of a product to support your answer.

So here's an example for you.

Electric cars have been designed and modified to reduce fuel consumption and environmental pollution with growing concerns over environmental impact and the need for cleaner energy, there was a need and want for sustainable low-emission vehicles.

Electric vehicles are now more energy efficient with longer battery life and faster charging times, and this helps to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet regulatory standards for emissions.

Okay, so you can see here that we've given a reason for why the industry modified the product and we've used an example product to support the answer.

Just compare your answer to this one.

Do you think you've got enough detail in there? Have you used an example of a product? Have you explained yourself really clearly? The second part of the task then was I asked you to choose a product that has been modified over time and explain whether the modification was driven by market pull or technology push.

So here are some examples again of what you might have written.

So for smartphones: market pull, consumers demanded high-quality photos and better battery life, leading companies to improve smartphone cameras and battery technology.

So smartphones actually had market pull and technology push at play here.

Technology push for smartphones, advancements in screen definition and 5G connectivity allowed manufacturers to introduce features that consumers weren't initially asking for, but later embraced.

So as I said, they actually had market pull and technology push at play there.

Again, your answer will be different, but just compare yours to the examples.

So the last part of the task then, using that product that you explained either was market pull or technology push, you were describing how the product was modified and why this change was necessary.

And again, here's an example for you to compare your answer to.

Smartphones now offer high-resolution displays, improved battery efficiency and ultra-fast connectivity, making them more functional and also desirable.

That desirable being really important if we're trying to stay competitive.

Okay, again, compare your answer to mine and think about how you could maybe even have improved that answer to add that little bit more detail or consideration into it.

Let's summarise today's lesson then.

We've been looking at modifications and improvements.

Industries modify products for customers needs and that is market pull as well as competition and regulations that come into play.

Technology push however, drives innovation before consumer demand exists.

And sustainability and cost efficiency leads to continuous improvement.

Trying to actually balance market pull and technology push really keeps products relevant and make sure that manufacturers and industries stay as competitive as they can.

Well done for all your hard work on this lesson and I will see you soon.