What is Technology?

1. What did you think technology was before the module?

1.1. I have always perceived technology as physical objects that would make peoples lives easier.

1.1.1. "When people think of “technology,” they tend to think of human artifacts such as machines, electronic devices, scientific hardware, or industrial manufacturing systems" (Isman, 2012)

1.1.2. "In short, technology is more than a collection of machines and devices" (Isman, 2012, 208)

2. How have your ideas changed?

2.1. The ideas I had of only physical objects being defined as technology seems to be expanding to the idea that anything that technology affects or encompasses can also be used to define technology.

2.1.1. "The point to all of this is that “technology” is not just the phones in our pockets and the laptops in our bags. When we use these pieces of hardware we are taking part in something much bigger than ourselves, something that affects us individually and socially" (Dyer, 2009)

3. Why do we need new technologies?

3.1. Humans have always strived to be better as a species and technology is an important factor to accomplish our goals. Technology is important in improving our lives, and it allows us to reach new heights in our lives. Without technology things such as healthcare, communications, economic growth, safety and security, and many other things that helped us advance through the years would not exist. Any human advancement up to now has been influnced by technology in one way or another, and in order to improve it will continue to do so.

3.1.1. "technology is a wonderful, amazing, always-changing bags of tricks that help the human being to live healthier, happier and more fulfilling lives" (Li-Hua, 2007)

3.1.2. "In other words, technology has to create things that benefit human beings" (Li-Hua, 2007)

4. What do you think technology is now?

4.1. It seems that technology cannot be loosely defined as physical objects that people use in order to make their lives easier. It seems that technology goes as far as affecting society, culture environment, organization, and etc. We can see that "technology is more then a collection of machines and devices." (Isman, 2012, 208). It seems that if technology has affected an idea or gave birth to a solution through the use of technology then one can say that it inself is technology. For example technology as methodology looks away from the physical aspect of technology. When considering the making of these physical objects such as hardware one can look at the routines, and methods that go into making it. Technology as methodology helps to put in place a set of actions, a way to do things in order to create the physical product.

4.1.1. "This usage of technology does not refer to a physical product or even the physical machines used to make the product, but the routines, methods, and skills used to make modern hardware" (Dyer, 2009)

4.1.2. "Miles (1995) defines technology as the means by which we apply our understanding of the natural world to the solution of practical problems. It is a combination of “hardware” (buildings, plant and equipment) and “software” (Li-Hua, 2007)

4.1.3. "There is a relationship among technology, society, culture, organization, machines, technical operation, and technical phenomenon." (Isman, 2012)