Question

Research any current technological product of your choosing. Find out about its manufacture and uses. Also find out about the basic research and applied research that made its development possible.

Short answer

Choose a current tech product, research its manufacturing process and uses, and explore the basic and applied research that enabled its development.

Step-by-step solution

- Choose a Technological Product

Select a current technological product to research. An example could be a smartphone, electric vehicle, or a smartwatch.

- Research Manufacture

Investigate how the product is manufactured. Look for information on the materials used, the manufacturing process, and the companies involved in production.

- Identify Uses

List the various uses of the product. Be specific about the different ways the product can be used by consumers in daily life or specific industries.

- Analyze Basic Research

Find out the basic research that contributed to the development of the product. Basic research is typically theoretical and aims to expand knowledge without a direct application in mind.

- Explore Applied Research

Identify the applied research that turned the theoretical knowledge into practical applications. Applied research focuses on solving practical problems and developing new technologies.

- Summarize Findings

Combine all the information gathered into a summary. Describe how basic and applied research contributed to the product's development and list the primary uses and manufacturing details.

Key concepts

Basic Research

Basic research is fundamental to the development of any technological product. It's driven by curiosity and a desire to expand knowledge. The goal is not immediate practical application but to understand underlying principles and theories.
For example, the creation of modern smartphones required decades of basic research in physics, chemistry, and computer science. Scientists delved into how semiconductors work, the nature of electromagnetic waves, and the principles of quantum mechanics.
This work is abstract and theoretical, often laying the groundwork for the future applications without a clear view of what those applications might be.

Applied Research

Applied research takes the theoretical knowledge generated from basic research and focuses it towards solving practical problems.
For instance, once the scientific community understood semiconductors, applied research was able to create transistors and integrated circuits, which are the building blocks of modern electronic devices.
This type of research is more goal-oriented. For example, tech companies invest heavily in applied research to develop new battery technologies to make electric vehicles more efficient and affordable.
Applied research bridges the gap between theoretical science and real-world technological innovations.

Manufacturing Process

The manufacturing process takes the designs and prototypes from applied research and produces them at scale.
This process involves multiple steps: sourcing raw materials, assembling components, testing quality, and finally distributing the product.
For example, manufacturing a smartwatch involves precise engineering, sourcing rare-earth metals and silicon, and assembling tiny, intricate parts in a cleanroom environment.
Companies use automated systems, robotics, and stringent quality control measures to ensure every product meets high standards.
The manufacturing process often varies by product but typically involves a balance of craftsmanship and automated efficiency.

Technology Use Cases

Technology use cases describe how a product can be used in real-world scenarios.
A smartphone, for example, can make calls, send texts, browse the internet, take photos, and much more. But each feature itself can have multiple use cases:

• Education: Access to online courses and educational games.
• Health: Fitness tracking, telemedicine apps.
• Finance: Mobile banking, digital wallets.

Detailed use cases help developers understand consumer needs and drive the evolution of features and functionalities. They also help marketers better target the product to specific user groups, ensuring its success in a competitive market.