Where Do Goods Come From?

The software industry brings together people, technology, and ideas from around the world to power devices everywhere. This book takes an in-depth look at the resources used to make software and where they come from, the countries that serve as hubs for software development, and the systems used to deliver these crucial goods around the world. Readers also learn how collaboration and testing make products more reliable and more appealing to consumers.

Paper is one of the most important innovations ever created. Curious readers will learn about the processes that trees and recycled materials undergo before paper products like printer paper, cardboard, and tissues reach homes and classrooms, as well as exciting new applications for paper and pulp. This book describes interesting concepts like the global supply chain and the relationship between paper mills, retailers, and consumers. It explains how population growth in China affects the demand for paper, and summarizes the economic forecast for paper manufacturers.

In our globalized world, cars and car parts are sourced, made, and shipped to and from all over the Earth. Help readers explore the intricate process of manufacturing components, putting them all together, and delivering finished cars. This book highlights the fascinating technologies of robotics and logistics such as the use of giant ships for transport. The book also describes how cars are marketed and sold, underscoring the idea that industries must shift and evolve to survive.

Video games are not just a way young people relax or amuse themselves. They connect players with other gamers around the world and provide a fascinating example of the effects and possibilities of globalization, manufacturing, and design and tech innovation. Aligned with the C3 Framework for Social Studies State Standards, this volume discusses how video games are made and sold, and why that matters to the world's environment, countries' economies, and to an individual's social networks and experience with technology.

The world's largest smartphone assembly plant produces nearly 150,000 smartphones a day. Factories specialize in individual components, like cameras, chips, and phone cases, which are designed to fit perfectly together like a puzzle. From sourcing and mining rare earth metals to testing software and hardware, making smartphones is an international affair. This exploration volume describes the process from start to finish and introduces readers to essential social studies concepts like trade and globalization. It clearly demonstrates how these concepts power the science and technology that changes our world.

Four thousand years ago, people began collecting crude oil that bubbled up through the earth to make roads and buildings. Today, people refine crude oil for many purposes, not least of all to harness its energy to power modern transportation. This book takes readers through the process of extracting, refining, and selling gasoline and diesel, while discussing how these processes are affected by globalization. It also describes complex ideas like oil reserves, supply and demand, and environmental impacts in an easy-to-follow and engaging way.