Technology is the application of conceptual knowledge for achieving practical goals. It includes both tangible tools, like utensils or machines, and intangible ones such as software. It also encompasses processes, such as transforming raw materials or creating designs and plans that can be replicated.
When we think of technology, many people focus on gadgets – mobile phones, tablets, computers, HiFi’s, cars and drones – or on the business world, where a more narrow definition gravitates towards Information Technology (IT) – networks, servers, data centres and IT systems. Others think of science as a type of technology. But, as the article below explores, it’s important to understand that technology has a much broader meaning than these two examples.
The history of human technology stretches back to prehistoric times when the first stone tools were created. Humans have since developed technology for a wide range of purposes, from food processing to transportation and beyond. But it’s not all good news – technology has also been used for weapons of increasingly destructive power, from clubs to nuclear missiles.
In the modern world, most of us rely on technology to get through our daily lives. The internet, for example, has shortened the distances between people, while cloud computing enables remote work. Technology has even changed the way we communicate, with instant messaging and videoconferencing replacing letters or face-to-face meetings. However, the most significant impact of technology is perhaps in the area of productivity and efficiency.