1. Experts Who View Technology in Relation to Efficiency in the Workplace
1.1. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), "Technology is bought and sold as capital goods including machinery and productive systems, human labour usually skilled manpower, management and specialised scientists. Information of both technical and commercial character, including that which is readily available, and that subject to proprietary rights and restrictions." (LI-Hua, 2007) This shows that many simply view technology as a means to advance capitalism. Simply believing that technologies sole purpose is to easy the jobs of labours to ensure more efficient production.
1.1.1. I think it all boils down to the fact that we need goods to trace in order keep the interest among people in sharing their service. Indeed, it's worth remembering that it is on the wider definition of technology that industry depends to generate new products, and therefore to grow. Although the means to radically cut transactional costs that the Internet offers will be ignored by a company at a peril to its bottom line, you can't escape the fact that at the end you still need products to transact." (Anonymous, 2000)
1.2. There are some that view technology as simply a way to produce items rapidly and at a lower cost. As in the definition by Joel Mokyr (1990) in his book, Lever of Riches: Technological Creativity and Economic Progress, he states, “By technological progress I mean any change in the application of information to the production process in such a way as to increase efficiency, resulting either in the production of a given output with fewer resources (i.e., lower costs), or the production of better or new products.” (p. 6) So, by increasing efficiency through the use of technology essentially there should be ways to reduce resources and lower costs.
1.2.1. As much I personally always see the human side of everything, many of these readings on humans and the industrialized use of technology has actually opened my mind to understanding exactly the reason industries drive rapid technological change. Since, the production industry requires a rapid output of products while reducing costs, this phenomena sparks scientists to use ingenuity to quickly modify and build a new item that fits these demands.
1.2.1.1. As much as I am personally not much of a materialistic person i understand the need of trading goods for services. I also understand that the quicker we can produce goods the more and more companies can push products on shelves to entice others.
2. Technology the Humanistic Approach
2.1. In essence technology is really nothing without the ideas of man. So why is it that when we thing of technology, we easily revert to thinking of robots taking over the world? Are we afraid that one day we can build something that can take over our positions and then as humans we are no longer of any value? Without mankind technology would not exist to the extent it does today.
2.1.1. From the book, Ricoeur’s Critical Theory “Technologies are best seen as systems that combine technique and activities with implements and artifacts, within a social context of organization in which the technologies are developed, employed, and administered. They alter patterns of human activity and institutions by making worlds that shape our culture and our environment. If technology consists of not only tools, implements, and artifacts, but also whole networks of social relations that structure, limit, and enable social life, then we can say that a circle exists between humanity and technology, each shaping and affecting the other. Technologies are fashioned to reflect and extend human interests, activities, and social arrangements, which are, in turn, conditioned, structured, and transformed by technological systems.”(Kaplan, 2003)
2.1.1.1. From Kaplan's quote, it is evident that there is unity between man and technology. Without man all these things we see would have not been invented. The desire to remain socially close even through busy times, has caused man to invent ways to stay connect without ever being in the same room. Overall, mankind will always find ways to make their lives easier through technology so we can simply spend more time doing what we love!
3. Five Things I Learnt from Kevin Kelly's Ted Talk (2010)
3.1. All technology has a place whether "good or bad"
3.2. We should not take to much time before testing our technology. Yes, researching its safety is important but also as important is finding all its uses.
3.3. If the use you intended the tech for does not work out, do not ditch the tech but find another use for it.
3.4. Simply defining a tech as bad does not mean it is bad, it is simply its intended use has not been found. Just like radioactive materials, can be found as bad but it has so many positive use.
3.4.1. Prioritize any risks discovered to ensure safety ones tech has undergone testing.
3.4.1.1. Remember tech is our friend. We should embrace it!
4. My definition of Technology prior to the modules readings
4.1. In my opinion, technology is anything that one can use to simplify a task and to allow the person to advance through a task easier. In a personal example, cable machines are a piece of technology that allow people to work certain muscles in ways that would not be as effective as using free weights (dumbbells) alone.
4.1.1. I feel this quote from Richard Rhodes (1999), book, Visions of Technology: A Century Of Vital Debate About Machines Systems And The Human World, “Ask a friend today to define technology and you might hear words like ‘machines,’ ‘engineering,’ ‘science.’ Most of us aren’t even sure where science leaves off and technology begins. Neither are the experts.” is exactly what my initial definition of technology seemed to be. As I thought deeper, I realized that there was much more. I was excited to see how much my definition would relate or differ from some experts in the field.
5. Interesting Definitions of technology
5.1. From the book Human-Built World: How to Think about Technology and Culture: “Technology is messy and complex. It is difficult to define and to understand. In its variety, it is full of contradictions, laden with human folly, saved by occasional benign deeds, and rich with unintended consequences.” (Hughes, 2004, p. 1) “Defining technology in its complexity,” he continued, “is as difficult as grasping the essence of politics.” (Hughes, 2004, p. 2)
5.1.1. I feel like this definition had resonated with me greatly. When I first tried to define technology, I found the thought quite difficult. Initially, my first thought was computer, cell phones and television but then I thought about the equipment I use in the gym daily and how in fact they are technological advancements as well.
5.1.2. Also from the same book Hughes (2004) gave this simplified but accurate definition of technology; "a creativity process involving human ingenuity.” (p. 3)
5.1.2.1. Essentially I read this and thought, "wow" this is spot on. Technology is not all about electronics and mechanical parts, it is simply a creative advancement of changing mankind.