Design is at the heart of technology. This is why most technology courses include design. Look at any manufactured product, and you can see that someone has designed it: they have tried to make it look good and work well. 

    The design process has several stages. It starts when someone notices a need or a problem. It ends when a product which meets that need or solves that problem is manufactured. These are the stages of the design process:

• Notice a need or a problem For example, when a cooking pot is heated, the handle becomes too hot to touch. The designer may have to design a new product or change the product to improve it.
• Write a design brief This is a simple, clear statement of what is needed. For example, design a handle that stays cool when the pot is heated.
• Investigate and research The designer asks questions and looks for information: Who will use this product? What will it do? How will it look? What materials can I use? What will the material cost? Do they have the right properties (such as light weight and durability) How will the product be made? Will it be safe?
• Develop alternative solutions The designer thinks of various different ideas. He or she will then draw sketches (simple drawings, of this different designs.
• Choose the best solution The designer chooses the best design. He or she also consider cost, time and whether it can be manufactured easily.
• Make a model or prototype (also called the realization stage, when a design is made into a real object) First, a detailed drawing is made, probably using CAD software. Then a prototype (a first working model) is produced. Or a computer simulation may be used.
• Test and evaluate The prototype is physically tested to make sure it works and it strong enough. Then, it is evaluated. How well does it meet the design brief? Can it be improved?
• Decide whether to manufacure if the final evaluation is positive, the company may decide to manufacture the product.

The "heart of technology" is known ____