1. What I thought it was before...
1.1. What I thought about technology before was anything that dealt with electronics. Especially physical electronics, like Cellphones, Tv's, Robotics, computers and cars. Anything that needs electricity is technology.
1.1.1. As it's stated in Visions Of Technology by Rhodes (2012),ask anyone 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” (Rhodes,2012). And it's true. Before if you asked me to define technology, those are the exact things I would say.
2. What I think now...
2.1. Now I think technology is both a physical thing like a product or a tool, and something that is informational, a process of innovation. It still does include electronics but it's not just that to me anymore, it's so much more.
2.1.1. Like what Kumar, Kumar and Persuad (1999) say in their article "technology has two primary components: 1) a physical component which comprises of items such as products, tooling, equipments, blueprints, techniques, and processes; and 2) the informational component which consists of know-how in management, marketing, production, quality control, reliability, skilled labor and functional areas" (Kumar, Kumar and Persuad,1999). When it comes to architect's designing and building a house for example, the tools they use, their equipment and the blueprints are technology but also the project management, the process of creating a house and the know-how to build a physical thing that one can live in is technology as well.
2.1.2. And I agree with Thomas P. Hughes,"Technology is messy and complex" (Thomas P. Hughes). Reading through the module, you can see everyone has their own way to define technology and no one is wrong. It's like they were all saying the same thing but differently.
2.2. How have things changed?
2.2.1. I don't view technology as solely something physical, but I also view it as knowledge. Specifically scientific knowledge. Knowledge that can create something useful.
2.2.1.1. Like Marc Andressen says, "Technology is the lever for being able to take natural resources and able to make something better out of them" (Marc Andressen).
2.3. Why do we need new technologies?
2.3.1. We need new technologies to aid and improve our human life. As time goes on us humans are still evolving and things change, problems arise. For example, our basic needs, food, shelter, clothing and communication , those all can be improved with the use of technology. Especially with the rise in homelessness, technology can help with resources like job opportunities and shelter.