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This thesis is an examination of the selection, introduction, use and effects on job design and work organisation of a particular form of new technology: Computer Numerically Controlled machine tools (CNC). Part One, Chapters 1 - 6, reviews the new technology literature and the historical development of contemporary approaches to job design and work organisation. From this examination, a conceptual framework is constructed showing the factors which influence and guide the choices that organisations make with regard to new technology. It draws special attention to the role played by the values, beliefs, self-interest and power of individuals and groups within organisations, and the philosophy and precepts of Scientific Management. The section concludes by describing the aims, objectives and methods of the research, and by examining the development of, and literature regarding, CNC. Part Two, Chapters 7 - 10, presents case studies of the introduction and use of CNC into nine engineering companies, differentiated according to company size and product batch size. Part Three, Chapter 11, presents the conclusions from the study. It firstly compares the case studies with each other, and then with the conceptual framework. It shows that the empirical studies supported the framework, but that two additional factors need to be taken into account: (a) that there is a need to recognise that those involved in the process of technological change can be "dazzled" by the technology, and (b) that the change process can be significantly affected by the competence of those involved. Nevertheless, the conceptual framework, and especially the influence of Scientific Management, are confirmed. The Chapter concludes by putting forward guidelines for the introduction of new technology.

The research presented in the thesis is a'case-study of a 'socially-directed' technology policy, formulated and implemented by the Greater London Council (GLC) whilst in office, between 1981 and 1986. The GLC attempted to make a direct link between technological innovation and social needs by creating the facilities, in the form of five 'Technology Networks'. for user involvement in socially-useful product design and development. The research is important for an exploration of technology issues. First, it represents an attempt to influence the politics of technological development. Second. it addresses issues of the content of technology and the social organisation of the innovation process. The Technology Networks comprised the focal points of the research. The objectives were the identification of the factors, both locally and nationally, which affected the policy implementation process. For the GLC, the national economic and political context proved crucial to policy developments: it resulted in their abolition in 1986. The Technology Networks remained in operation, but were increasingly plagued by funding difficulties. Findings from the study suggest that the access of a different range of social groups of users and producers to the early stages of the innovation process. may be a valuable exercise in itself. but is problematic as a base for an alternative technology policy. Other major constraints on the development of socially-useful technologies are manufacturing and market opportunities. The conclusions are concerned to explore the potential of a local authority as an agent of technological change, in terms of their role in design and technology education and the creation of an alternative technological hegemony.

Under the age of knowledge economy, innovation has become the key step to success in this competitive world. The importance of innovation, especially technology innovation cannot be overemphasized. Technology innovations are the power that initiate and drive the evolution of our society and economy. Despite the essential importance of technology innovation, any technology innovation will be worthless without a proper commercialization. However, technology commercialization seldom becomes fully realized. The Taiwan government as well realizes the value of technology innovation and technology commercialization. Therefore, different types of funding plans or policies have passed every year to support and incubate the innovation and technology innovation development of Taiwan firms. Without exception, Taiwan also has SBIR programs to encourage small businesses to explore their technological potential and provide the incentive to profit from its commercialization. Nevertheless, more than half of the SBIR innovation projects fail in the process of commercialization. This study aims to provide a better understanding of factors that influence the technology commercialization of SMEs which participated in the Small Business Innovation Research Project (SBIR). The sample of 970 firms comprised 1169 SBIR projects with ending years between 1 to 5 years respectively. In addition, a detailed interview and case study on NanoWin Technology Co. Ltd was preceded. This paper has studied and constructed a conceptual framework and its associated case examples in its relationship with technology commercialization. The findings suggest three board strategies and ten related concepts that contribute to the success of technology commercialization in SMEs: R&D strategy (market demand oriented, time to market, outer resource arrangement and core technology competence); Marketing strategy (focus on niche markets, create customer values and apply 4P strategy); Business strategy (clear strategy target, value chain positioning and profitable business models).

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar a utilizaÃÃo do software GeoGebra para o ensino de funÃÃes. Atualmente hà um grande interesse pela utilizaÃÃo de novas tecnologias em sala da aula como recurso adicional para o ensino de conteÃdos matemÃticos, pois essas estÃo sendo consideradas com um valioso recurso de fixaÃÃo de ideias e conhecimentos nessa Ãrea do conhecimento. O GeoGebra à um software de MatemÃtica, livre e dinÃmico, que pode ser utilizado em ambiente de sala de aula ou online, e reÃne elementos de Geometria, Ãlgebra e CÃlculo. O conteÃdo de funÃÃes foi escolhido por ser um tema relevante ao currÃculo do ensino bÃsico e que os alunos demonstram ter grandes dificuldades na resoluÃÃo de problemas que envolvem grÃficos, especificamente quanto à interpretaÃÃo e a identificaÃÃo de propriedades. Para tanto faremos a apresentaÃÃo do software, seu histÃrico, a estrutura do GeoGebra e as possÃveis aplicaÃÃes de suas ferramentas daremos algumas instruÃÃes de utilizaÃÃo e exemplos. Em seguida, faremos um breve histÃrico dos principais conceitos apresentados, procurando destacar a importÃncia do tema e as diferentes formas de abordagem. Ao final do estudo, apresentaremos sugestÃes de atividades e sequÃncias didÃticas que podem ser usados na preparaÃÃo de aulas sobre o assunto discutido. Nosso intuito à sugerir que as aulas referentes ao conteÃdo citado tenham uma abordagem diferente. / This study aims to investigate the use of software GeoGebra for teaching functions. Currently there is great interest in the use of new technologies in the class room as an additional resource for teaching mathematical content, as these are considered a valuable resource fixation of ideas and knowledge in this area of knowledge. GeoGebra is a software Mathematics, free and dynamic, which can be used in a classroom setting or online, and combines elements of Geometry, Algebra and Calculus. The content of functions was chosen to be a relevant topic to the basic education curriculum and that students have demonstrated great difficulty in solving problems involving graphs, specifically regarding the interpretation and identification of properties. To do so will make the presentation of the software, its history, the structure of GeoGebra and possible applications of their tools give you some instructions and examples. Then we will make a brief history of the key concepts presented, aiming to highlight the importance of the issue and the different ways of approach. At the end of the study, we present suggestions for activities and teaching sequences that can be used in the preparation of lessons on the subject discussed. Our aim is to suggest that the classes for the cited content have a different approach.

No / In their book, Remediation: Understanding New Media, Jay David Bolter and Richard Grusin argue that digital visual media can best be understood by examining the ways in which they relate to earlier technologies of representation, a relationship that is a complex mix of homage, critique and revision. They also suggest that this process, referred to as `remediation' takes two main forms: immediacy, in which the presence of the medium is downplayed in order to achieve an effect of transparency and realism, and hypermediacy, in which the medium is foregrounded and draws attention to its own artificiality. In this paper, we explore Bolter and Grusin's ideas using the BBC series Walking with Dinosaurs, the related documentary entitled The Making of `Walking with Dinosaurs' and the official supporting BBC Online web site. We have focused on the process of remediation, by analysing the various ways in which Walking with Dinosaurs, one of the first television series to fully exploit the potential of digital technology, utilized codes and conventions from earlier media forms and technologies. We examine whether the overall effect achieved in these programmes can best be described as immediacy or hypermediacy, and have contrasted this with the associated documentary and web site. We conclude by exploring some of the broader issues relating to media representation that are raised by this ground-breaking television concept.

This thesis considers the portrayal of uncertain or amateur encounters with new technologies in the late twentieth century. Focusing on fictional responses to the incipient technological and cultural changes wrought by the rise of the personal computer, I demonstrate how authors during this period drew on experiences of empowerment and uncertainty to convey the impact of a period of intense technological transition. From the increasing availability of word processing software in the 1980s to the exponential popularity of the “World Wide Web”, I explore how perceptions of an “information revolution” tended to emphasise the increasing speed, ease and expansiveness of global communications, while more doubtful commentators expressed anxieties about the pace and effects of technological change. Critical approaches to the cultural impact of computing technologies have tended to overlook the role played by perceptions of expertise and familiarity, and my thesis seeks to redress this by identifying a broad range of imagery, language and cultural references used to depict amateur or inexpert encounters with computing technologies. My interest in literary representations of amateur or marginalised users of computing technology reveals how the ease and speed of reading and writing promised by technological expertise can be countered by uncertainty arising from limited understanding of the complex processes involved. In a pre-smartphone age, the computer loomed as an object which was simultaneously baffling and enchanting, filled with potential but also obscure in its fundamental workings. Examining instances within experimental literary fiction and poetry which portray, imply, or respond to, encounters with personal computing, I demonstrate how individuals’ attempts to understand a technologically-inflected world can be described and enacted by the use of unusual narrative and poetic devices, where experimental literary strategies work to recreate the complex sensations associated with thrilling, difficult, or incomprehensible aspects of information technologies.