Technology is a term that describes tools, devices, systems, and processes that are used to solve problems or enhance human capabilities. It is the rational process of creating means to order and transform matter, energy, and information in ways that realize valued ends. The underlying principles of technology are the laws and concepts of physics, biology, chemistry, and other scientific disciplines.
The development of technology has shaped the evolution of mankind and impacted how we work, play, and communicate with each other. It allows us to accomplish tasks that are impractical without it and increases productivity. In addition to making jobs more efficient, it helps reduce the risk of errors and provides real time data to keep departments and teams on track.
Almost every aspect of our lives has been touched by technology in one way or another. From the first stone tools to the latest smartphone, it’s become an integral part of how we live and function. Technology makes our world smaller and more connected. But it also raises a lot of concerns about the impact on society. The good news is that most of these worries are likely to be mitigated as humans adapt to digital life.
But that doesn’t mean it will be easy. Many people will struggle to adapt, and a significant number of individuals won’t have access to the tools they need. These individuals are disproportionately rural, low income, elderly, illiterate, and female. Providing them with access to digital technologies will be critical for their survival.
To make digital technology accessible, companies need to have the right infrastructure in place. That includes the hardware, software, and support needed to maximize productivity and achieve compliance. Buchanan offers comprehensive IT solutions that provide the necessary support and technology to help businesses achieve their objectives. To learn more, contact us today.
When a new piece of technology becomes popular, it typically prioritizes some routes and ends while deprioritizing others. For example, when TVs became widespread, they accelerated the trend of zoning out in front of screens, hypnotized by constant visual stimulation. The same can be said for social media websites and digital cameras. The proliferation of these technologies deprioritized the pathways to photography that required film and darkrooms, along with the inefficient but gratifying culture of physically retouching images for hours.
In his book, The Nature of Technology: What It Is and How It Evolves, W. Brian Arthur proposes a three-tiered conception of technology. He says that there are two sharply diverging traditions in how we talk about it: the ‘instrumental approach,’ which treats it as a narrow technical rationality uncreative and devoid of values; and the ‘normational approach,’ which views it as an intervening power with the ability to shape technologies toward more humane ends.
As far as the former goes, Arthur points out that it is a misguided view that technology moves forward thanks to lone inventors who discover new technologies. The actual model is a deeply social one. In fact, it’s a fractal one: technologies build upon each other in a self-replicating manner.