Technology refers to the tools we use for everyday tasks and activities, including both tangible devices like utensils or machinery, and the nontangible software that runs our computers, tablets, phones, and televisions. It also refers to the processes of creating these tools and the larger systems that enable them to function as a whole. Technology is a powerful tool that can help create a better future for humanity, but it must be used properly to avoid negative consequences.
For example, technology can improve education by allowing students to learn in various ways. Children can express their creativity through animation and video editing applications, while online platforms allow students to collaborate and practice their writing skills. Technology can also be a valuable resource for children with special needs, as they can access learning materials at their own pace or through alternative means.
Similarly, businesses leverage technology to increase their efficiency and maximize output. This includes automation, which allows organizations to perform repetitive tasks at a much faster rate than humans can, while ensuring accuracy. Technology can also aid in data analysis, which is critical to decision-making in business environments.
However, the emergence of new technologies often comes with a variety of concerns regarding their impacts on society and global change. Scholars across disciplines are encouraged to work together on untangling the complexities of these emerging technologies and their relationships to global changes. These complexities include how they are embedded within, and interact with, the broader social and political contexts in which they exist.