Design and Technology
Although strongly related, design is not the same thing as technology. Design is a practical problem-solving process, whereas technology is the existing body of conceptual tools, materials, and processes available to solve the design problem. Researchers and engineers spend much of their time developing new techniques while designers are principally concerned with practical results on specific projects, and therefore focus their efforts almost entirely on mastering the existing technology.
Roman Aqueduct
Long ago in history, bridge-design revolved almost exclusively around stone arch construction. Because of physical limitations the greatest distance for a single-span stone arch is perhaps 30 meters, and a longer stone bridge must be constructed from multiple spans. Witness the remaining Roman aqueduct systems for the supreme example of this technology.
During the middle ages the Gothic arch was developed, and although it still could not span distances any better than the Roman style, the load-bearing characteristics of this new arch required far less stone, and for this reason were easier to build than the old massive Roman curved arches (check out the Brooklyn Bridge for examples of some of the largest Gothic stone arches ever built).
Brooklyn Bridge at Night
Beginning with the Industrial Revolution in the early 1800′s various researchers and engineers developed new bridge-building materials such as steel, structural wire, and reinforced concrete. And with these advances, bridge-designers began to have even more options at their disposal when searching for practical solutions.
But there is always a limit to technology.
In one of the Star Trek movies, Scotty conjures up the formula for ‘transparent aluminum’ as a way to build a giant light-speed flying fish tank. My design juices got rolling and I could imagine all sorts of other uses for such a marvelous material. But it does not exist in the real world, and so I could never really use ‘transparent aluminum’ in a practical design.
A designer can only work within the limits of what is technically possible.
Ken Ramsley
Thank you ! I appreciated this essay on design and technology … the differences between. Even more I liked the fact that you centered on the arches constructed by the Romans and the development that has ensued since then. The design and building of freestanding arches has been a hobby of mine for several years much to the confounding of my neighbors.
Thanks again !
Ed Babb
Having assembled medieval towns and cathedrals for 3D video games, I studied a bit about stone construction. Amazing what they could build with wooden frames and basic rigging.