For something that is name-checked so often in our society the precise meaning of Technology is somewhat obscure. Many equate it with gadgetry and others think hazily of all the things that make life different today from what it was in the past. There is a real need to get closer to the nuance and complexity of technology, its impacts and how it has played out in our complex and complicated world.
Technology is the creative application of knowledge to organised tasks involving people and machines that meet sustainable goals. Whether it is food production, building construction, communication, transport or medicine technological innovation has been key to changing the way we live and work. Historically the development of technology has been a dynamic process. Some societies have progressed much further than others. The fact that some societies have stagnated, even at quite advanced stages of technical evolution, and lost the accumulated techniques that they had accumulated, illustrates that it is not inevitable that technology always develops in a particular direction.
The nature of the relationship between science and technology is also critical to an understanding of what Technology really means. Science deals with necessity and universality; technology deals with contingencies, limitations and behavior in specific circumstances. It is in this ambiguous area that the true meaning of Technology lies.
In the business environment, the term Technology is usually used to refer to information technology, or IT. This includes IT services such as networks, servers, software and storage. It also covers technologies such as computers, mobile devices, telecommunications and digital television. This is the technology that drives most of the economic growth in modern economies and is a core part of almost every corporate function such as sales, marketing and human resources.
While it is important to understand the benefits that technology brings, there are also a number of drawbacks and risks. These include the potential for cyber attacks and hacking, and a lack of privacy for citizens and politicians as well as the dangers that excessive use of technology can have on child development. However, the advantage of technology is that it offers new learning opportunities and can help to make work easier for those with physical or developmental challenges.
It is essential that we keep pace with the constant advancement of technology. This is because it can be a major contributor to productivity and competitiveness as well as provide new job creation in sectors such as manufacturing, financial services and professional services. In addition, it can be an opportunity to streamline business processes and enhance customer experience. However, it is essential that we understand the risks associated with technology and take steps to mitigate them. For example, we should be aware that technology can be used to gain an unfair competitive advantage or to manipulate the outcome of elections. Moreover, we should be mindful that technological advances can lead to biases and misinterpretation of data. This can have a negative impact on the credibility of scientific research and evidence-based decision making.
