Final answer:
The goal of technology product standards is not to define a 'one-product-fits-all-needs' approach but to set minimum requirements for products to ensure compatibility, safety, quality, and effectiveness while allowing for product diversity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that technology product standards aim to create a "one-product-fits-all-needs" approach is false. The purpose of product standards is to establish certain baseline requirements and guidelines that products within a market should meet to ensure compatibility, safety, quality, and effective operation. These standards are not designed to homogenize products to the extent that there is only one product for all needs. Rather, they provide a framework that allows for a variety of products to coexist in the market while ensuring they meet minimum expected criteria.
Standards are essential for several reasons. They help to avoid arbitrary or unnecessarily discriminatory decisions and are supposed to treat foreign and domestic companies equally. The role of standards in trade policy is complex. For instance, while restricting imports and imposing tariffs might protect domestic industries in the short term, they can have negative long-term effects and raise prices for consumers. Conversely, common standards across countries can be seen as a 'first best' policy that directly addresses the root of issues like product safety without the negative side effects of tariffs.
The form follows function principle in product design indicates that the product's usability and purpose are the main factors driving its design. This principle does not necessarily align with a 'one-size-fits-all' approach but does suggest that a product's design should stem from what it is intended to do, which can lead to a range of products designed for different functions and user needs within the same standards framework.