Technology… hmm… Though the question can be easily asked, its answer is not that straightforward. The word Technology can be seen in many different contexts and can be defined or explained accordingly. Still, the simplest form to answer “What is Technology?” is “Putting the knowledge into action to meet the needs.”
Let’s explore
It is to be taken into account that Science and Technology, though related, have entirely different goals. The goal of Science is to know the world around us. Whereas Technology aims at making our lives better by using the knowledge gained. It is more focused on the application of knowledge for the betterment of ourselves or we can say Technology always tries to get that knowledge which can be used to meet our needs.
The Technology is computers is aimed at developing gadgets and tools for the ease of working of man. The technology in Economics is aimed to produce useful goods faster, better, cheaper, and in more and more quantity. Technology in medicine deals with inventing equipment to save people with critical health problems, treat patients with ease, and tools for the comfort of the disabled. With every field of human life, technology changes its preference and functioning. That’s why it is almost impossible to arrange words in a sentence that will give the exact and all-encompassing definition of Technology.
Clearing the picture
For practical purposes and to easily understand what Technology actually is we have mentioned a brief informal definition of Technology, “The application of knowledge” or say “Making something using the knowledge gained for the fulfilling of the current needs.”
Need an official definition?
Now you may have an almost clear picture of what technology is actually. If you still want to know the formal and official definition of Technology, here is what the internationally recognized Merriam-Webster Dictionary tells us about Technology:
“Application of knowledge to the practical aims of human life or to changing and manipulating the human environment. Technology includes the use of materials, tools, techniques, and sources of power to make life easier or more pleasant and work more productive. Whereas science is concerned with how and why things happen, technology focuses on making things happen.”
Pretty accurate and nicely explained, right?
A few examples will do
Now let’s see some examples which will help to understand the concept better.
Some persons of core science are studying and researching parts of atoms like electrons, protons, and neutrons. They gain the knowledge of flow of electrons through the conductors. But Technology is about making use of this knowledge and creating machines and devices like semiconductors, and computers and using them for the betterment of humans.
A team of archaeologists is excavating an ancient site. They get some coins, bones, and utensils there. Now, it is Technology that helps them to figure out exactly how old that stuff is. So that they can make some propositions about the human civilization that lived there thousands of years ago.
You know now what technology is and how useful it is for us.
Pros and Cons of Technology
When we glance at the day-to-day life of common human beings, especially, from the toothbrush they use in the morning to the table lamp they switch off before going to sleep, all are products of Technology. Technology has given us gadgets like ventilators, BP monitors, and ECGs which proved beneficial. On the other hand, missiles, atom and hydrogen bombs, and bio-chemo weapons that are kept ready to destroy human civilization within hours are also products of Technology.
The same thing is true for computer-mobile smart devices technology. They have also proved to be a boon and bane at the same time.
Conclusion
So, all this explanation is certainly more than enough to give you an idea about “What is Technology”. Technically, you know what Technology is but to be a bit philosophical, we must remember that Technology is always neutral. It is up to us humans, to decide and use it to make a “Gun” and take the life of innocents to show our “Power” or make a “Pen” and spread the knowledge to “empower” the world!!
References :
https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/engineering-and-technology/technology/what-technology
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology#Science,_engineering,_and_technology