The technology is defined as the use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes and applications. Its use can occur in both industrial environments and those typical of everyday life.
In other words, anything that uses some kind of scientific knowledge to reach an end can be considered as technology.
The technology is characterized by involving pieces and equipment that in some cases can be highly complex.
However, the invention of the wheel is considered a technological advance as important as computers or television (Innovation Internatica, 2015).
As the technology can be very simple or very complex, it needs to be divided into different types. These types include mechanical, electrical, industrial and manufacturing technology, among others (Wood, 2017).
Each type of technology is important to meet specific human needs. Similarly, a single artifact may involve different types of technology.
The lives of human beings have changed drastically over the last 10,000 years thanks to advances in technology. This represents the work of man at his most creative and ingenious level.
It is important to note that technology should be considered as a means to achieve specific goals, although its development should not be the end, as it is believed that technology can never compensate for what humans can actually do.
These objectives can be based on technical, aesthetic and symbolic functions. Therefore, a single technological object can satisfy several needs at different levels at the same time.
Main features of technology
Constant change
Technology is constantly changing. Generally, the great institutions of the world, like universities, companies and governments, invest enormous capitals to promote the technological development.
As a result, technology is constantly changing, generating innovative and futuristic solutions.
Business relationship
The technology is directly linked to a commercial relationship of demand. Many new products are created from the request of the people.
The creation of these products usually leaves great profits. Therefore, it is common to see how technology changes according to market trends.
The areas most affected by these trends are computers, smart equipment, video games, Internet , virtual reality games and home automation components, among others.
Change in price
Thanks to the two characteristics mentioned above, the price of technological articles is constantly changing.
It is normal to see how certain articles happen to be obsolete in a short period of time, happening to have a lower price.
On the other hand, when a technological article is exclusive and many people in the market want to obtain it, the price of the same tends to rise.
Solves problems
This characteristic is the essence of technology, since in the beginning the human being developed technological artifacts that allowed him to solve basic problems of daily life.
An example is the invention of elevator, which allowed the growth of cities on high. Without this element, it would be extremely difficult to move vertically above the four floors.
Generates productivity
One of the main characteristics and advantages of technology is that it allows generating or boosting the productivity of human tasks.
In this way, people can manufacture more products or perform more tasks in less time and at a lower cost.
Status Differentiator
Technology is useful as a differentiating element of status and wealth. Certain products are associated with the elites of a society because of their high cost and specialty.
A simple building will never have as much status as one that opts to install modern equipment in its facilities.
People often carry luxurious technological items to mark their social position, economic capacity and power within a given group.
These items may include jewelry, clothing, automotive, smart devices, among others (I would know, 2017).
Functions of technology
Technical function
Historically, the main function of technology has been to meet human needs.
At first these needs dealt with only the basic needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, protection, socialization and understanding of natural and social dynamics.
Once technology transcends the plane of satisfying only basic needs, it begins to be used to satisfy sensory and psychological needs.
Artifacts arise to practice sports, they develop instruments and elements that allow to exercise all kinds of forms of hedonism.
Technology has the function of helping human beings achieve what they want. These desires may include achieving status, fabricating tools and weapons, dominating nature, or conquering other social groups.
Aesthetic function
Throughout history, successful technological objects have been copied by their competitors. Thus the key to its success lies not in its practical utility but in its aesthetics.
In this way, the way a technological object is viewed becomes more important to the user.
Technological objects are generated from the combination of technical function and aesthetics. These seek to achieve beauty using the use of shapes, textures, and colors.
This is checked when a user is offered two objects whose function and price are the same. The user will always choose the one he finds most beautiful.
This function of technology is so important that the world's best-selling technological article is clothing, which perfectly frames the concept of aesthetic beauty that is at a certain historical moment.
Symbolic function
The main symbolic function of technology is to indicate social status and indicate where in the power pyramid an individual is located.
The jewels are a technological artifact with a high aesthetic and symbolic load. Many times what impacts of its presence is not its beauty but its value. Therefore, jewelry works as an indicator of wealth for its owners.
Expensive clothing has historically been a technological article used to denote social status.
An example of this can be seen in the history of American slaves, who were punished with scourges when they disguised themselves in their masters' clothes to pretend to be of another social class.
Another example of technological objects that are created by their high symbolic value are the big buildings. These include palaces, cathedrals, and skyscrapers. Each of these buildings is created to give its inhabitants the feeling that they are small.
The imposing buildings usually have dazzling and luxurious spaces. Generally they are symbols of economic power of the cities.
They also allude to the high technical knowledge that both its creators and builders have (Aguirre, 2013).
Types of technology
Mechanical Technology
Mechanical technology is that which uses the use of wheels, cams, levers, gears, belts and motors to manufacture elements that rotate or generate movement in one direction.
The wheel is probably one of the most important and simple technological advances in the history of mankind.
Electronic Technology
Electronic technology is, perhaps, the kind of technology we are most familiar with today.
It is the technology that defines modern life, and is characterized by using complex electronic circuits to achieve a specific goal (Blackhurst, 2017).
Electrical circuits may have varying degrees of complexity. Each device that uses electronic technology to operate has a different circuit board, according to specific needs.
On the other hand, it is considered that all the apparatuses that need electrical energy to operate are electronic devices.
This includes computers, washers, dryers, MP3 players, radios, televisions and, in general, anything that plugs into a power outlet to operate.
Industrial and manufacturing technology
Industrial and manufacturing technology is one that aims to produce a large-scale element, or perform some kind of large-scale task, without direct interaction with the end customer.
An example of this can be the manufacture of cars or the generation of electricity. Both processes involve the use of highly advanced technological tools.
Particularly in the case of carts, it is essential to use mechanical robots to achieve precise and large-scale production.
Medical technology
Medical technology is one that serves to diagnose, treat or prevent diseases. This includes scanners and ultrasound scanners, used to take pictures of the interior of the human body.
Also included in this category are assistive ventilation equipment and medications that people take to feel better.
Medical technology is one of the fastest growing in recent years. Thanks to it can be carried out surgeries that seem miraculous, since they allow to extend the life of patients who were about to die.
On the other hand, there are different equipment that allow to treat patients' medical conditions from their homes, such as dialysis, nebulization or intravenous medication application.
Communication Technology
The technology of communication or telecommunications includes all the devices and elements devised by the human being to communicate. This includes both the telegraph and satellites and the internet.
The internet can be considered as the biggest breakthrough in telecommunications over the last 50 years.
Technology of education
The education technology is one that focuses on the delivery of academic content in a systematic and accurate. Usually, it is responsible for establishing clear objectives and well-defined procedures, so that a group of students can learn about a particular topic.
It is usually sequential, and its complexity gradually increases. It requires the interaction of a tutor or teacher to be used. It also requires a high level of commitment on the part of the student to achieve their goals.
The most common technological artifacts applied within this category include recording tapes, educational support software, computers, and more complex systems as a means of programming to control the projection of audios and videos.
The technology of education was strongly impacted by the internet and the development of computers. Increasingly, these two elements play a fundamental role for the teaching of distance learning courses.
Assistive technology
Assistive technology uses different types of services and devices designed to help people with disabilities interact with their environment. This type of technology includes mechanical, electronic and microprocessor equipment.
On the other hand, you can also use non-mechanical or electrical aids such as specialized instructional material or services and strategies that people with physical disabilities can use within their learning process or to access all the elements arranged in their environment.
Assistive technology also seeks to enable people with disabilities to be competitive in their work environment, to encourage their independence and to improve their quality of life.
Many of the technological elements available within this category are homemade. This is because, in most cases, they must meet the specific needs of a single individual.
Some examples include prosthetics, communicative help kits, special computer keyboards, custom switches, and some software and services to treat language pathologies.
Productivity Technology
As its name implies, productivity technology is one that is made up of elements that enable humans to perform a task more effectively and efficiently. It includes software, hardware and related systems tools.
An example of this type of technology may be the development of computer software that can be used to retrieve information quickly and accurately.
Tools such as word processors, FAX machines, or certain specialized computer programs are just a few examples of productivity technology.
Information technology
Information technology allows us to access sources of knowledge and resources related to a wide range of topics.
The internet, and its component as a global network, is one of the most prominent examples of information technology.
References
- Aguirre, J. (April 17, 2013). Technology . Obtained from Technological Functions: tecno1236.blogspot.com
- Blackhurst, A.E. (2017). National Assistive Technology Research Institute . Obtained from Types of Technology: tam.uky.edu
- International Innovation . (January 2015). Retrieved from Technology Features: innovainternetmx.com
- (2017). social Sciences . Retrieved from"What are the characteristics of the technology?: saberia.com
- Wood, D. (2017). com . Obtained from What Is Technology? - Definition & Types: study.com.