Technology is an ever-evolving landscape with new innovations and products that are transforming how we live. From the first stone tools to the modern day smartphones and autonomous cars, technological advancements have had a tremendous impact on our daily lives.
The word technology comes from two Greek words: techne and logos. Techne means skill, art, or the way or manner in which something is gained. Logos refers to a statement or an expression of inner thoughts and ideas. Together they mean “the knowledge or skill that is creatively applied to organised tasks involving people and machines to meet sustainable goals.”
Technology has had a profound effect on human history, affecting both personal and professional life. It has also impacted the world as a whole and continues to influence our relationships with each other and the natural environment. As such, it is important to understand how technology impacts our daily lives and what the future holds for this vital aspect of humanity’s evolution.
A key feature of technology is its intervening power – the capacity to bring about change that goes beyond just calculating the best means towards an end, to transform the end itself. This is evident in the astronomical discoveries of planetary science, but also in the mundane acts of changing a gear when driving a car or brushing one’s teeth.
As such, the study of technology involves a deep understanding of what changes we want to make and how these changes can be achieved. Technological criticisms have been prevalent throughout history, both in the form of dystopian literature such as Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World and George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four and in the overtly anti-technology treatises of Theodore Kaczynski (the Unabomber).
Whether we are talking about the latest gadgets or a business software tool that allows remote workers to collaborate with each other, technological innovation is everywhere. This means that a general understanding of technology can be applied to a wide range of topics and career paths.
From robotics to artificial intelligence to 3D printing, the most popular technologies of our time offer solutions for virtually every conceivable problem. They allow us to live healthier lifestyles by improving healthcare, work in more efficient ways, and explore the universe with unprecedented efficiency. They improve communication and collaboration between individuals and companies, making it easier to do what matters most to each of us. And they help us stay connected with friends and family, whether across town or the globe.