Technology: definition, real-world examples, and evidence

Technology - Definition

There is much controversy with regard to technology, as its complexity makes it difficult for some to have a proper understanding of the concept. Technology is behind the evolution of humankind and it would be safe to say that it is an essential part of humanity in general. In order to be able to understand technology, one would first have to consider humanity's background and a series of events that made it possible for people to achieve impressive goals. By following this process, the respective individual would gain a more complex understanding of the triggers that encourage people to pursue technology and the degree to which it can help humanity thrive.

One of the first things one would have to consider when discussing with regard to technology would have to be the actual word "technology." The contemporary understanding of technology has its roots in Ancient Greece, with the Ancient Greek using the term "Tekhne" with the purpose to describe artificial things that could only be created through using skill humans had accumulated through time. One of the most intriguing aspects about this word is the fact that it can also be used to describe a form of art. This would make it possible for one to comprehend that the Ancient Greek also saw technology as a form of art, with individuals using their creativeness with the purpose to achieve goals that could be rather utilitarian in character (Wang, 46)

The fact that technology, as a term, has been adopted by many languages can sometimes make the concept more divisive. "Technology, as used in the English language, fails to differentiate between the study of technology and the application of technology." (Wang, 46) Technology thus needs to be seen as separated into two concepts -- one relating to an artifact that a person has built and one relating to the process of building the respective artifact. In other words, technological devices are not possible without a technological process enabling people to build them. When considering the fact that words are largely a technological process and an artifact at the same time, it would be safe to say that technology can sometimes be both artifact as well as a process. This also makes it possible for one to consider technology as an infinite process -- people continue to build technology and use this respective technology with the purpose to build newer and more efficient technological artifacts. Humanity's evolution in general can thus be perceived as a continuous technological process. "For Aristotle (and many others) essential definitions have a genus and species or differentia structure. One example might be the claim that technology is the systematic human making of physical objects and/or the using of such objects: technology is the human behavior (genus) involved with the systematic making or using of artifacts (species)." (Philosophy of Technology and Engineering Sciences, 29)

One of the main reasons why people fail to properly understand technology is the fact that they focus on individual technological elements, regardless of these involve technological artifacts or technological processes. The problem with technology is that is cannot be defined by using borders when attempting to describe it. Trying to concentrate on seeing it as a whole or as a part of a larger process is much more likely to assist a person in attempting to understand technology. What is even more problematic when discussing with regard to technology is that by dividing it into several parts people can easily be misguided and influenced to believe that all of these parts are different from one-another. The reality is that technologies exist side by side in spite of the fact that they can concentrate on different ideas. Another thing that makes technology difficult to understand is the fact that newer technologies can give birth to new ideas. As a consequence, the more human kind knows about the world, the more people realize that their knowledge is very limited. The very concept of inventing tools to measure the immensity of space makes it possible for people to comprehend that technology is not actually a finite process. One can only hope that technology will one day make it possible for mankind to know all there is to know about the universe.

Although this might be difficult to accept, the reality is that technological processes are actually attempts to simplify much more complex ideas. In a way, people are sometimes lying when being presented with a seemingly impossible question because this is the best answer they can possibly provide at the time when they are asked the respective question. "Given the existence of this problem about a mismatch between science as taught and the realities of the physical universe, some teachers of science advocate the teaching of much science in a technological context -- so that pupils can perceive the science as being relevant and related to their own lives." (Banks, 240)

Newer technologies are intriguing because they provide people with the opportunity to focus on developing newer technologies without actually having to have a complex understanding of technologies they are using with the purpose to develop new ones. It would be safe to say that some technologies become part of humanity to the point where people almost perceive them as being innate. The Global Positioning System is certainly one of the greatest wonders in the contemporary society. However, when considering that many people currently see it as being something perfectly normal, it seems that these respective individuals have reached a point where this technology no longer feels new. In turn they use it with the purpose to achieve things they might perceive as actually being new.

The GPS experienced rapid advance through the twentieth century and it is currently widely available in spite of the fact that it was initially designed for the military. There are currently at least 24 satellites orbiting the planet and providing information that can be used with the purpose to determine someone or something's position. "Devices on Earth receive those Issues & Controversies signals and can calculate their distance from respective satellites using the time the signal was sent. With information from at least four satellites, such devices can precisely calculate their position on Earth." (History and Functions of the Global Positioning System)

Technology today has reached a point where almost anyone has access to the internet -- a wide range of databases containing approximately all of humanity's history. This is the era of what is known as "the internet of things" -- a collection of seemingly ordinary devices connected to the internet. People's microwaves, fridges, and washing machine can all be connected to the internet and accessible from people's mobile devices. However, this also means that security breaches are likely to become more common and much more dangerous. A hacker cannot only steal a person's identity, as he can physically alter the environment that the respective person lives in. He or she can break into a person's network and operate household devices or even his or her car. One can only imagine what this power can mean once it falls into the hands of immoral people (Dhanjani).