Practice IB Design Technology (DT) Topic 5.2 Innovation with authentic exam-style questions for both SL and HL students. This question bank focuses on the exact syllabus content for 5.2 Innovation and mirrors Paper 1, 2, 3 style where relevant.
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A commercial laundry facility replaces its manually operated washing machines with a computer-controlled system that recycles water and optimizes detergent dispensing.
Explain three characteristics of this system that define it as a process innovation.
A start-up company enters a market with a simplified, low-cost alternative to a complex medical device. While the device initially lacks the high-end features of established products, its ease of use and affordability eventually allow it to capture the majority of the market from the established leaders.
Which type of innovation does this scenario describe?
Table 1 shows a comparison between two cooling products that share the same core functional technologies.
| Design Feature | Traditional Desk Fan | Portable Neck Fan |
|---|---|---|
| Core Components | High-speed motor, fan blades | High-speed motor, fan blades |
| Product Configuration | Mounted on a fixed, vertical pedestal | Integrated into a wearable, U-shaped chassis |
| Intended User Context | Fixed office or home workspace | Individual mobile cooling |
What type of innovation is best demonstrated by the development of the neck fan using the existing components of the desk fan?
In 1858 Leonard Bailey produced the Bailey Wood Plane. The body of the plane was made from cast iron rather than timber. It also had a cam lever lock to secure the lever cap (a). In 1867 he added a longitudinal adjuster – a “Y” lever operated by a screw set vertically behind the cutting unit (b).
Despite the development of electric wood planes, the Bailey Wood Plane is still used in workshops today, see Figure 1.
Figure 1: Bailey Wood Plane
List two properties that made cast iron a suitable material for the Bailey Wood Plane.
Explain why the Bailey Wood Plane is an example of an innovation.
Explain how the Bailey Wood Plane demonstrates omnipresence and dominant design.
Explain why perspective drawings, orthographic drawings and exploded isometric drawings would be used in the design of the Bailey Wood Plane.
HolidayWithUs enables people to rent out their properties using the company website, see Figure 1. Instead of staying in hotels or guesthouses, people can now stay in private homes. This has completely changed how people travel.
Figure 1: A screenshot of the HolidayWithUs website
What is this type of innovation known as?