Technology is the ability to create, use, or control tools, machinery, or devices for various purposes. In the broadest sense, technology is anything that improves a society’s quality of life or allows it to do more with less.
The word technology is derived from two Greek words, techne (meaning art, skill, or craft) and logos (meaning word). Technological advancements have often led to great advances in science.
Advances in science enable scientists to conduct research into a variety of topics, including genetics, ecology, and human behavior. This is a result of the development of tools that allow researchers to collect samples, transport them, and conduct computations and analysis.
New technologies require careful planning and the use of resources. These may include people, materials, tools, and knowledge. They also need to be tested, validated, and adapted to a specific environment.
The results of such work can have substantial and long-lasting consequences for society. The question of how to best balance these benefits and side effects is an important one that arises as a matter of policy for governments, private companies, interest groups, and the general public.
It is a common belief that technologies have both positive and negative effects on people, communities, and the environment. This is true for the small effects that can be easily predicted, such as a change in the way we consume energy and foods, and the large changes that may be unexpected, such as the release of hazardous chemicals or toxins into the environment.