Back to the full dot-point answer
NSWDesign and TechnologyQuick questions
Innovation and Emerging Technologies
Quick questions on Emerging technologies and innovation: HSC Design and Technology Innovation and Emerging Technologies
4short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What are environmental consequences?Show answer
Emerging technologies cut both ways environmentally. Additive manufacturing reduces material waste by adding only what is needed, and supports local production that lowers transport emissions. Biodegradable and bio-based materials reduce landfill and reliance on fossil-based plastics. Against this, some technologies are energy intensive, depend on rare materials, or create products that are hard to recycle because they combine many materials.
What are ethical consequences?Show answer
Ethical questions include the responsible use of biotechnology, the bias and accountability of AI-driven design decisions, surveillance through connected products, and the fair distribution of benefits. A designer using generative AI must still take responsibility for the safety and suitability of the result.
What are economic consequences?Show answer
Economically, emerging technologies create new industries, export opportunities and skilled jobs, while disrupting established ones. Early adopters gain competitive advantage, but development carries financial risk. Lower barriers to prototyping support small Australian start-ups competing globally.
What is one-sided evaluation?Show answer
Emerging technologies have both benefits and costs across social, environmental, ethical and economic dimensions. Weigh them.
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.