Nature of Technology

A fun day out on the water?

• BUT….What damage is your propeller causing?

Characteristics of Technology

• Look at the image• How does it make you

feel?• What do you think

caused the cuts on the turtles back?

Answer..?

Characteristics of Technology

• Notice the scar

• This Orca was another victim of being run over by a power boat.

Characteristics of Technology

• Around the world lots of damage is being caused to creatures, humans and the environment by boats using propellers.

Environmental damage

• This underwater shot clearly shows how the outboard motor of a boat cut a path through some delicate marine grass

• (Florida)

What can be done?

• As a technologist, what can we do?

• Ban boats?• Ban props?• Use something else..

Some alternatives..

Legislation or design?

• What other technological solutions can you think of?

• What rules (laws) could be put in place to protect the marine environment?

Write in some of your ideas1)What other technological solutions can you think of?

2)What rules (laws) could be put in place to protect the marine environment?

Your ideas….hovercraft

Sail boat only areas

Rowing/paddling zones

Your ideas….Warning signs

policing

Water jet propulsion

Shallow, no entry

airboats

Pros and cons

• Could a hovercraft cope with rough water/waves. What about an airboat?

Airboats & hovercraft really need calm/flat conditions!! (Why?)

Characteristics of technology

• What drove Hamilton to develop his water jet boats?

• Explain why the water jet unit has so many advantages for a range of applications compared to other forms of propulsion.

• How many/what uses can you name for this system?

Read background on ‘Hamilton before starting this exercise

Characteristics of technology

• Key points;• Difficulty of access to muster his sheep• No conventional boat could navigate up-

stream• Environmentalists working to protect river

and sea beds• Recreation, people wanting safer boats to

avoid injuring skiers, swimmers and animals.

Characteristics of technological outcomes

• Describe the features of Hamilton’s water jet that make it safer for water skiers, animals, and able to propel boats upstream in shallow water.