A wide range of people use technology to improve their lives in a variety of ways. It helps them stay informed about the world around them, work more efficiently, and communicate with others. It also allows them to access information that would be difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. But how many of us really know what is meant by the term technology? For many people, the word brings to mind gadgetry – mobile phones, computers, TVs, hi-fi’s, cars and robotic grass cutters.
The term is also used to refer to complex manufacturing and construction techniques. The development of these new technologies requires highly specialised education and training for their designers, builders and maintainers. Some of them are so complex that they have become their own fields, such as engineering and computer science.
Despite their complexity, technological systems still require human control. Even the most sophisticated automation is designed within constraints: economic (only so much money can be spent on developing a technology), social (disadvantages for some groups of people), ecological (likely disruption of natural environment) and ethical (harm to individuals). The optimum design takes all these factors into account.
Technology also changes the way that businesses operate. Instead of writing notes or logging details on paper, companies now record data digitally and save it in databases. This process makes it easier to retrieve and edit information, reduces costs and improves security. In addition, technology has also made it possible to transfer data between different locations more quickly. This makes it easier for companies to grow and expand their operations, and enables them to work with global customers more easily.