Technology is the use of tools and machines for practical goals, like making something. It’s a broad term that can include tangible tools such as utensils and machines, or intangible ones such as computer software. It also includes the methods by which we achieve our technological goals, like business programs and management software.
When we look at the history of human civilization, it’s easy to see how technology has shaped and transformed society. Changes in agricultural technology, for example, helped fuel population explosion; bows and arrows and gunpowder changed how war was waged; and microprocessors have dramatically changed the way we write, compute, bank, operate businesses, conduct research, and communicate with each other.
The process of creating technology involves determining what ends we would like to achieve and the most efficient means for accomplishing those ends. Joseph Dunne suggests that making technology requires thinking through contingencies and specificities that are not necessarily addressed by science. Science focuses on necessity and universality; technology tries to bring the world closer to how we wish it could be.
It is important to remember that technology merely makes it easier for us to pursue our desired ends. It’s a tool that must be used wisely to ensure its effectiveness and minimize its negative effects. It’s also critical to understand how different types of technology work and how they function. This will allow you to better appreciate the benefits of each type of technology and the ways in which they can be utilized.