Technology is an ever-growing part of people’s personal and professional lives. Understanding how technology shapes our interactions with the world around us is crucial not only for those who research and develop new technologies, but also for all of the people who use them on a daily basis.
Whether ordering groceries on a smartphone app or collaborating with colleagues on a video conference call, the technologies we employ help make our lives more comfortable and efficient. However, they are not without their drawbacks. For example, if companies do not take measures to secure their online assets from cybercriminals, they could find themselves vulnerable to theft of proprietary information and economic loss.
The evolution of technology has been driven by a need to meet our ever-changing needs. From stone tools used in prehistoric times to the latest advances in computer chip manufacturing, technology has always been a crucial driving force of human progress.
In the broadest sense, technology encompasses all of the tools and materials we use to help achieve our goals. This can be as broad as the tools we use to hunt and gather, or as narrow as our smartphones. The most important factor is that these tools have been designed to help us accomplish our desired outcome.
A technological innovation spreads or fades away primarily on the basis of free-market forces, but in some cases the development and use of a particular technology becomes an issue that sparks public debate and, in some instances, formal regulation. This is the case with contour plowing, vaccination, and genetic engineering, among others.