DP Design Technology Questionbank

State one reason why the product was designed to only last two years.

Explain why consumers of first to market technologies are likely to be innovators.

Suggest two reasons why the original rotor sail was a shelved technology in the 1920s.

Explain one strategy a musician would use to protect a new song.

Designers use specifications to guide development and evaluation. Suggest the cost constraints and material requirements for the Treak Village plastic brick.

Explain how Rogers’ characteristics of relative advantage, compatibility and observability help in the diffusion of the Zuperzozial kitchenware.

While working on a new type of refrigeration system, Lonnie Johnson connected a hose to his system to test a part when water shot out at high pressure. This gave him the start of the idea for the Super Soaker water gun, see Figure 6.

Figure 6: Water gun in a Super Soaker type design

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2018]

What strategy for innovation is this an example of?

A. Market pull

B. Analogy

C. Technology transfer

D. Chance

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being a lone inventor.

Figure 5 shows a Shared Docs file. Instead of each user having to work on separate files, Shared Docs allows the three different collaborators to work on a single file.

Figure 5: An example of a Shared Docs file

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2019]

Which category of innovation is used in Shared Docs to allow collaboration with other people?

A. Architectural innovation

B. Modular innovation

C. Sustaining innovation

D. Disruptive innovation

HolidayWithUs enables people to rent out their properties using the company website, see Figure 5. Instead of staying in hotels or guesthouses, people can now stay in private homes. This has completely changed how people travel.

Figure 5: A screenshot of the HolidayWithUs website

[Source: © International Baccalaureate Organization 2020.]

What is this type of innovation known as?

A. Sustaining innovation

B. Disruptive innovation

C. Modular innovation

D. Architectural innovation

Nike is a global running shoe brand well recognized by the Nike Swoosh (tick) design.

Which of the following intellectual property (IP) strategies would be used to prevent any other company from copying the Nike Swoosh design?

A. Copyright ©

B. Patent

C. Trademark ®

D. Service mark (SM)

Explain how the mobile phone can be classified as disruptive innovation.

Which type of obsolescence best describes a product that has been replaced due to changes of consumer tastes?

A. Planned

B. Style (fashion)

C. Technological

D. Function

Explain how copyright can be used as a strategy for the protection of intellectual property.

Explain two ways that Volkswagen (VW) can extend the maturity phase of the product life cycle.

Outline why designers would register a patent.

Outline why the clapperboard is in the maturity phase of its product cycle.

Explain how sustaining innovation, disruptive innovation and process innovation apply to the development of the smartwatch.

List two characteristics of a patent.

It has been proved that Edison was not the inventor of the light globe as they existed 50 years prior to his patent. However, he is known for improving the light globe and making them commercially successful.

Explain the impact of innovators and innovation with relation to Edison’s light globe.

A light globe can be designed with planned obsolescence in mind.

Explain how the style, function and sustainability in the design of the light globe can lead to planned obsolescence.

Which of the following are Intellectual Property (IP) symbols?

I. ™

II. ®

III. 

A. I and II

B. I and III

C. II and III

D. I, II and III

Explain one driver for invention of the NCV in Figure 11.

Explain Pavan Bapu’s role as entrepreneur and product champion in the success of the Gramovox^® bluetooth speaker.

Explain how copyright is used in the creative arts as a method of protecting intellectual property (IP).

Explain why the Bailey Wood Plane is an example of an innovation.

Explain how market pull has influenced the release of the metal straw.

The recent developments in autonomous vehicles have led to a large increase in the number of patents. In the US there are 4300 patents that include the term “autonomous vehicle”. However, some patents have more value than others.

Explain one reason why some patents may have more commercial value than others.

Discuss whether the development of the electric motorcycle is an example of technology push or technology transfer.

Explain two ways that drones can become obsolete.