Technology is a very important force in the economy and in life in general. It is used by many businesses to create new products and services, to stay competitive, and to deliver on time and within budget.
Technology is a broad concept that can include tangible tools as well as intangible ones. A technological breakthrough can make life in our world much easier, but it can also cause unintended consequences.
The invention of the wheel in the Bronze Age allowed for more rapid travel. Later, the printing press brought down the barriers to communication. Today, the Internet has ushered in a knowledge economy. However, there are still a number of countries that are rethinking rules governing the flow of data, especially across borders.
During the early years of the 20th century, German engineers articulated a wide-ranging concept of ‘technology’. This included both industrial arts and technical arts.
In 1911, Walter Sombart wrote a paper on “technological determinism.” In his characterization of the technological’mire’, Sombart was a skeptic: technological determinism “requires a sceptical view of the social and political implications of a technology.”
The term ‘technology’ was introduced by William Barton Rogers in 1860. He likely heard the term while visiting Edinburgh University in 1857.
The invention of the microchip, or microprocessor, is a good example of how modern technology has made information and communication more accessible. Microchips are now used in several applications, including mobile phones.
Many technologies are complicated in their relationships and in their uses. Understanding how they work and what they can do is key to understanding them.