Technology is the collective application of skills, knowledge, and techniques in the achievement of specific goals, including scientific research, or in the production of products or services. The term technology was first used by American philosopher James B. FCC in his book “Law and the Change”. In this book, he defines technology as any human agency used to develop and make things that satisfy human needs. In addition, technology involves culture, with a particular set of norms and practices that shape how people use technology.
Technological systems are general descriptions of the many ways human activities can be grouped together to produce a wide range of results. These include scientific research and experiments, computer sciences, medical technologies, electrical and electronics engineering, information technology, information management, manufacturing technologies, and networking systems. A wide variety of examples include computers, telecommunications systems, financial instruments, air transport systems, military technologies, firewalls, and consumer technologies. In fact, it would take pages to list all the examples of technological systems that have been developed and made available to the public.
One way to think of technology is to think of it as a series of interconnected events. For instance, the development of the computer is an example of the technological process. As computers became more affordable and accessible to ordinary people, the technological process became even more complex, with new types of electronic devices being introduced one after another. Similarly, the medical technology that has developed over the past century and a half has also developed in an almost exponential manner, as new diseases and other medical conditions were discovered. Similarly, information technology, computer technology, and wireless technology have all had a large impact on society.
Technological change, then, occurs when something becomes drastically different in its physical, mental, and social make-up. The basic pattern of technological change is towards a highly complex system being produced, which is then made available for use by the general public. This process tends to change the cultural norms of a society, as new technological systems tend to affect social behaviors in a way that shocks or surprises many people. The shock value of such changes, however, need not be taken literally, as the shock value of new technologies can be used to our advantage in order to create more beneficial social structures.
For instance, consider the changes in transportation that have occurred in contemporary societies. Just a couple of years ago, the majority of automobiles ran on gasoline, with very limited options for alternative fuel use. Now, however, there are hundreds of fuel choices that are better for the environment and better for the fuel economy. In addition, the public has become much more aware of the scientific evidence that emissions from combustion engines are extremely dangerous for the environment. As a result, the consumption of fuel within our society has drastically decreased, causing oil stocks to reach historic lows.
This same trend of increasing access to information and knowledge can also be seen in how scientific and technological research is handled within a society. Prior to the technological change mentioned above, there were few options for studying and acquiring knowledge about the world around us. One could travel to distant countries for scientific research or spend one’s entire life in a university to study one field of interest. As a result, there was little scientific change that affected everyday life. However, as technology has increased access to information and knowledge, individuals have begun to demand that the societal systems that they live in support their knowledge needs to be better managed, and this has caused changes within the academic community as well as the wider scientific community.
Technological change can impact virtually every aspect of society, both economically and socially. As human beings become more knowledgeable about technology, they are also likely to demand that technology be better managed. As societal systems grow more dependent on technology, an increasing number of people believe that technology is inherently dangerous, believing that it poses a threat to the way society and the world work together. These beliefs are often based on ignorance of the ways that technological change can benefit society, or the ways that technology allows us to express ourselves creatively and innovatively.
Technological change has played a role in society for thousands of years, and it will most certainly continue to play a large role in society in future years. This is true for several reasons: technological systems have made many aspects of life easier over time; the societal systems we live in have built-in mechanisms for ensuring that new technologies are tried before they are put into use; and society has become accustomed to novel technological applications that are quickly embraced without too much fuss. However, as technology becomes more intertwined with society, it is inevitable that these changes will have some consequences that society may not be able to foresee. In fact, future advancements in technology may cause new societal problems that weren’t issued until now, making it vital for society to come up with new ways to deal with the changes technology brings.
