What Is the Relevance of Technology?
Technology, in the simplest of terms, is a means to fulfill a human objective. The invention of plows in neolithic times allowed for increased food sources and agricultural efficiency; the telescope allowed humans to view uncharted parts of the universe; computers allow us to communicate with one another across vast distances at speeds that approach instantaneously.
Technology has permeated every facet of our collective identities and societies like no other concept before it – but what does technology mean today? Some would argue that technology is making us stupider, while others see an age of miraculous possibilities ahead. Perhaps most relevant to this discussion is when technology began infiltrating our social lives – for better or worse.
Tackling this issue requires an understanding of the forces that influence the development of technology.
First, consider economics – specifically, supply and demand. When there is a demand for something, someone will create a means to provide that product or service. This has certainly been true for technology over the past centuries – because people wanted faster transportation, steamboats were created; because people wanted better weapons, guns were invented; etcetera. More recently, technology has improved travel speed through planes and trains while also allowing for more precise targeting capabilities with missile replacements like rockets.
Technology follows trends set by society as well as influences them – because there are so many hungry entrepreneurs seeking to make their fortunes selling “the latest greatest” products, they are likely to find ways to create and sell those products. Innovation, creativity, and trial-and-error are the forces that drive the creation of technology, albeit with some occasional outside influence.
Technology can also be developed for reasons other than satisfying consumer desires – it may be developed as a defense mechanism against potential threats. If one country believes another is developing new weapons, they will often try to develop their own weapons in turn in order to maintain what they perceive as military superiority. This “arms race” process has influenced global politics throughout history – most notably during World War II with the development of atomic bombs on both sides of the conflict. Emerging nuclear technologies today have similar origins – countries like Iran believe that having nuclear capabilities allows their greater security against foreign invasion; countries like Israel maintain similar capabilities in order to deter possible attacks from their adversaries.
Technology can also be influenced by government and military forces for surveillance purposes – the Internet, as a prime example, began as a means of communication between U.S. Department of Defense research laboratories and universities, but has since expanded exponentially to include millions upon millions of citizens around the globe.
Many technologies have been developed either as a direct result of war or as a way to increase defense capabilities – tanks, planes, and missiles all exist for this purpose. The invention of rockets was itself an extension technology – they were created because other projectiles didn’t allow enough accuracy or range to engage targets at long distances efficiently. Rockets both those benefits, allowing them to reach targets at higher altitudes and speeds.
Technology is also influenced by the organizations and corporations that develop, sell, and provide it to consumers. Apple has revolutionized how we interact with technology through their smartphones and tablets; similarly, Microsoft has set the standard for operating systems over recent decades. These companies both influence and are influenced by society as a whole – they must produce products that appeal to as many people as possible, but at the same time, those products can fundamentally change how society functions or interacts with technologies like computers or mobile devices.
The development of these technologies will continue indefinitely so long as there remain unfulfilled desires by consumers for new things, security threats from other countries, and governments around the world seeking ways to protect their citizens. It seems likely that the future of technology will bring greater advances in artificial intelligence, which could potentially lead to robots with capabilities like emotions and consciousness.
The Internet forever changed how we interact with each other on a daily basis; the ways in which we communicate with family, friends, and even strangers were transformed through social media. Traveling to another country is now as simple as downloading an app on your phone; transportation services like Uber make getting around easier than ever before.
When considering what it means to be “connected” across vast distances via technology, one must consider its implications outside of just making our lives simpler – does this new form of connection encourage us to interact more frequently? Can modern citizens use their newfound interconnectedness for good or ill?
One thing that cannot be argued is that there has never been a time in history where so many individuals can connect so quickly on such personal levels – but at what cost? The pace at which technology grows is seemingly unstoppable, but does this mean that all forms of technology are inherently positive?
One thing is certain – the rate at which technology grows will never slow down, and its relevance to society will only become more prevalent in years to come. Whether the collective opinion of humanity views this development as a good or bad omen may depend heavily upon personal perspective, but one cannot deny that how it is used and by whom it is wielded remains a contentious subject for many cultures across the entire world.
Technology, in the simplest of terms, is a means to fulfill a human objective. The invention of plows in neolithic times allowed for increased food sources and agricultural efficiency; the telescope allowed humans to view uncharted parts of the universe; computers allow us to communicate with one another across vast distances at speeds that approach…