Technology encompasses all forms of tools for use by people to accomplish tasks. From stone tools and the wheel to nuclear power and space rockets, technology has improved our quality of life through advances in medicine, communication, economic growth, etc. But it also brings with it concerns over privacy and a looming threat to jobs. Capturing these issues requires an in-depth understanding of the technologies that shape both our work and personal lives.
The first technology was probably the conversion of natural resources into simple tools. In the prehistoric world, this meant creating fire to cook food and protect against predators. Later, technological developments made it possible to transport goods and travel over long distances. Today, technology has eliminated barriers to communication through the internet and cellular phones. It has also increased efficiency in business processes through software solutions like inventory management, CRM, and more.
Whenever any form of technology becomes widespread, it tends to scale the behavior it facilitates. When TVs exploded in popularity, for example, it became easier for people to zonk out in front of their screens and become hypnotized by endless visual stimulation. In the same way, social media websites have facilitated one-way parasocial relationships that lack the benefits of face-to-face interactions. But technology can also be used to address a specific problem, such as the lack of clean drinking water in an area. In this case, students could collaborate with local organizations to design a solution.