Technology is a term that describes the methods, techniques, skills and processes that are used to produce goods and services. These include design, management, labor, finance, manufacturing, and marketing. In addition, it refers to products that result from such activities.
Technology has been a powerful force in the development of human civilization. It began with the conversion of natural resources into simple tools. Other advances, such as the invention of the wheel, gave us the ability to control our environment.
Today, most people use some form of technology every day. Some of the more useful aspects of technology include communication, research, and data collection. The latest advances have also lessened the physical barriers to communication. However, technology can be beneficial as well as harmful.
As a cultural activity, technology has been around since the dawn of human culture. While some technologies have been used for peaceful purposes, others have had a negative impact on the environment.
Although many technological waves are short-lived, they often have a sweeping impact on culture, medicine, and industry. Examples of truly profound waves include the introduction of electricity and digital information.
The word technology itself comes from two Greek words, techne and logos. Techne means “craft” or “art”, while logos refers to inward thought or discourse. Knowing what these terms mean can encourage a desire to pursue a career in technology.
Since the advent of the printing press, there have been numerous technological innovations. In fact, technology plays a vital role in our daily lives. Several industries rely on it to ensure that their products are delivered on time, and many businesses use it to help them be competitive in the market.
Technologies come in all shapes and sizes. Software is the most common example. Most software aims to make a task more efficient. But even the most sophisticated computer programs require a human to monitor and program the controls.
In addition to these technological innovations, the human race has also invented some weapons of increasing destructive power. This has shaped the course of history. Agricultural technology may have influenced the course of human civilization more than political revolutions.
Technology is also a complex social enterprise. It is a driving force behind urbanization and economic interdependence. Many businesses use it to stay competitive and create new products. A growing number of healthcare professionals rely on technology for their work.
Even the most mundane technology can have significant effects on society. Refrigerators, for instance, have a favorable impact on diet and food distribution systems. Similarly, microprocessors are changing the way computing works. And, GPS systems are a common feature on many tracking devices.
The relationship between technology and society is generally characterized as co-influential, co-dependent, and co-producing. These relationships are often synergistic and co-evolutionary, but they can also be detrimental.
For example, the development of GPS has helped people find their way to a certain place at any time of the day. Meanwhile, nuclear explosives have changed wars.