Technology is the result of scientific knowledge being transferred into practical applications. The products of technological research are the results of people trying to make things better and more efficient. Nevertheless, there are differences between technology and science. In this article, we’ll discuss the different forms of technology. The definition of technology is a brief one:
Technology is the product of transferring scientific knowledge to practical use
The process of transferring scientific knowledge from a research lab to the real world produces different forms of technology. The aim of technology is to make our lives easier by enhancing human abilities and improving processes. One example of technology is the internet, which has made communications easier between people in many different parts of the world. In addition, technology has led to innovations in agriculture, cybersecurity, environmental solutions, and aerospace.
The process of technology transfer enables academic researchers to develop and commercialize new discoveries. It also helps universities increase their prestige, attract faculty, increase their grant funding, and generate revenue to support research. It also helps companies tap into the expertise and knowledge of world-renowned scientists.
It is the result of people trying to find more efficient ways to do things
While technological advances are an amazing part of modern life, their negative side can be just as bad. One major concern is the depletion of natural resources. This includes fossil fuels and food resources. For example, the production of ethanol is reducing corn production globally and depleting rare earth elements. This, in turn, causes conflict in many parts of the world.
It is not neutral
Although we tend to think of technology as neutral, this is not the case. It is inherently non-neutral, and has consequences that can affect society and power arrangements. For example, a computer or software program has consequences that are far beyond the effects on a single individual. Computers can affect entire industries and government structures.
Hare uses a series of analogies to illustrate the issue of neutrality, examining the differences between intent and impact in human behavior. The author also explores the distinction between animal intelligence and human technology, drawing a distinction between chimpanzees’ use of spears for hunting and hermit crabs’ borrowing of shells for protection. While the first example of technological use is a deliberate and intelligent act, the second one reflects the influence of genetic coding and does not require conscious intent.
It is not deterministic
It’s hard to argue that technology is deterministic. After all, it has produced such a variety of societies and technologies as communist dictatorships, fascist regimes, and liberal democracies. Technology can create a paradise, or a hell, depending on how it is implemented. As a result, it’s essential to acknowledge that technology is not deterministic, and that human beings must adapt to it.
There’s a danger in too much technological determinism. The goal of design is to accomplish the desirable against the background of the technically possible. However, technological determinism doesn’t have to be bad, as long as it’s balanced out with social and societal factors.