Technology is the use of knowledge to make human life easier. It also refers to the tools made from this knowledge, such as machines, computers and other electronic devices. It is important to understand that technology has both positive and negative impacts on the world. The benefits of technology include the ability to communicate and learn from other people around the globe, increased efficiency in production, reduced costs, improved health care and more. The negative impact includes the potential for harm to the environment and other people, but this is less likely if responsible choices are made about the application of technology.
It is hard to imagine life without technology, as it has become an integral part of our everyday lives. From the first stone axes to today’s smartphones, technological developments have helped us to build tools and solve problems. The development of the internet, for example, has allowed us to communicate with people from any place in the world and share information instantly. It has also made it possible for companies to provide better customer service by providing an instant response to queries.
In addition to these benefits, technology can improve the quality of education and make learning more enjoyable. For example, the use of videoconferencing has allowed students to take courses from anywhere in the world without having to travel to physical classrooms. In addition, online classes can be recorded and played back later, which means that students don’t have to worry about missing any parts of a lecture.
Unlike other forms of knowledge, technology is not based on a single theory or principle and is constantly evolving and improving. It is a process that takes time and effort, and it is rare for an idea to progress from concept to finished product without many setbacks along the way.
Technological developments can protect and harm the planet’s ecosystems and resources, but these effects are often not considered when decisions about new technology are made. For instance, solar energy and electric cars can help reduce air pollution, but they still use fossil fuels and create toxic waste. New technologies can also reduce environmental costs, for example, by using stack scrubbers to mitigate the emissions from power plants or by introducing catalytic converters to internal combustion engines.
In order to survive and thrive, businesses must embrace technological changes. They must be able to keep up with the demands of consumers and deliver a fast, efficient and secure service. This is particularly important for customer-facing businesses, such as online retailers or banks. In these environments, customers have high expectations and will punish businesses that fail to meet them.
There are two sharply divergent traditions about talking about technology. The first, which Schatzberg calls the ‘instrumental approach’, has a narrow technical rationality that is uncreative and devoid of values. This view was held by such thinkers as Aristotle, Hugh of St Victor, Johann Beckmann and Talcott Parsons. The other tradition he calls the ‘non-instrumental approach’ takes a broader perspective and includes concepts such as human flourishing and environmental sustainability.