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New
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Year 11

New and emerging technologies informing design decisions

I can use specific examples to explain the impact of new and emerging technologies on the design of products.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 11

New and emerging technologies informing design decisions

I can use specific examples to explain the impact of new and emerging technologies on the design of products.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Market pull and technology push impact on design decisions.
  2. Obsolescence impacts on design decisions.
  3. Fashion and inclusivity impact design decisions.
  4. New and emerging technologies impact design decisions; e.g. biopol versus synthetic polymers

Keywords

  • Design decision - a deliberate choice to meet a requirement or solve a problem

  • Market pull - designers develop products in response to users' needs and wants

  • Technology push - innovations developed by companies are sold onto the user

  • Obsolete - a product that is no longer used or useful

  • Planned obsolescence - products deliberately designed to fail or become quickly outdated

Common misconception

All new technology is good and we should use it.

New technology can be good but may also have negative consequences which responsible designers must consider.


To help you plan your year 11 design and technology lesson on: New and emerging technologies informing design decisions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Any physical examples of new and emerging technologies would be great to use in this lesson. For example, biodegradable shopping bags, VR goggles, reading pens etc.
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Teacher tip
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Equipment

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Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment
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Supervision

Adult supervision required

copyright

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Obsolete refers to products that:
are used frequently
Correct answer: are out of date
Correct answer: are no longer used
are used everyday
Q2.
Which of the following best defines 'fashion' in relation to products?
The permanent design standards for all consumer products.
Correct answer: The trends and styles in products that are popular at a particular time.
A list of features required for a product to be sold in shops.
The design of durable products intended for long term use.
Q3.
New and emerging technologies usually have:
Correct answer: both positive and negative impacts
only positive impacts
only negative impacts
Q4.
Match the example to the new and emerging technology:
Correct Answer:biometrics,fingerprint technology
tick

fingerprint technology

Correct Answer:biometrics,voice recognition technology
tick

voice recognition technology

Correct Answer:AI,image recognition
tick

image recognition

Correct Answer:AI,chatbots
tick

chatbots

Correct Answer:drones,delivering blood samples from hospitals to laboratories
tick

delivering blood samples from hospitals to laboratories

Correct Answer:drones,entering buildings that are on fire
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entering buildings that are on fire

Q5.
A design decision is a deliberate choice to meet a or solve a problem.
Correct Answer: requirement , specification point
Q6.
Robots can replace when automation is used in manufacturing.
Correct Answer: jobs, humans, manual jobs, people

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the definition to the keyword:
Correct Answer:Market pull,Designers develop products in response to user’s needs and wants.
tick

Designers develop products in response to user’s needs and wants.

Correct Answer:Technology push,Innovations are developed and then sold to the user.
tick

Innovations are developed and then sold to the user.

Correct Answer:Obsolete,A product that is no longer used or useful.
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A product that is no longer used or useful.

Correct Answer:Planned obsolescence,A product is purposely designed to come to the end of its life.
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A product is purposely designed to come to the end of its life.

Q2.
In 2020, Apple were fined £21 million for slowing down older iPhone models without clearly informing consumers.
Correct Answer: intentionally , purposely, deliberately
Q3.
An example of Augmented Reality (AR) is:
Correct answer: virtual fitting rooms
drones delivering medicines
reading pens
prosthetic limbs
Q4.
New and emerging technologies can have potential impacts. Match the impact to environmental or ethical:
Correct Answer:sources of energy,environmental
tick

environmental

Correct Answer:loss of jobs to robots,ethical
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ethical

Correct Answer:privacy infringements,ethical
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ethical

Correct Answer:cyberbullying,ethical
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ethical

Correct Answer:use of particular materials,environmental
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environmental

Q5.
Match the impact of drones delivering parcels to a positive impact or a negative impact:
Correct Answer:positive,reduces carbon footprint
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reduces carbon footprint

Correct Answer:positive,reduces traffic or congestion
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reduces traffic or congestion

Correct Answer:negative,can be an infringement on privacy
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can be an infringement on privacy

Correct Answer:negative,could get stuck in trees or overhead cables
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could get stuck in trees or overhead cables

Q6.
Match the product to technology push or market pull:
Correct Answer:electric car,market pull
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market pull

Correct Answer:smart watch,technology push
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technology push

Correct Answer:smart phone,technology push
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technology push

Correct Answer:reusable water bottles,market pull
tick

market pull

Correct Answer:3D printers for the home,technology push
tick

technology push