Technology is the means by which humans create things that improve life. It encompasses many different areas, from medicine and transportation to business and entertainment. It also covers all of the tools that enable us to work and communicate more efficiently. Technology is a powerful force, both in business and society, but it can also have negative effects. It is therefore important to understand how to use technology in a positive way and to be aware of the issues that may arise.
Most people think of gadgets like mobile phones, computers and big TV’s when they hear the word Technology. But this is only a small part of the story. Technology is a much bigger and more powerful concept than this. In a business context, it refers to the use of IT – Information Technology – to support and run an organisation’s processes, systems and applications. It’s also about the development and application of emerging technologies – including IoT, VR, AI and more – that change the game for businesses and consumers alike.
A technology can be something as simple as a digital compression algorithm that creates the mp3 music file you’re listening to now. It can be a software platform that powers a social media website or it could be the remote work trend that has people running profitable online businesses from their living rooms. But a technology is also the new ways we interact with each other, the environment and ourselves – it’s about how we use knowledge creatively to organised tasks that involve both people and machines to meet sustainable goals.
The pace of technological change is accelerating, transforming the world in profound and unexpected ways. This change is creating enormous opportunities, but it’s also raising concerns about the impact of technology on jobs, education, and our culture.
Those responsible for developing and implementing technology need to ensure that their innovations are harnessed for the greater good. However, setting clear standards and rules for an ever-evolving landscape is challenging – especially when governments are reliant on the tech sector for revenue and job creation. This often leads to a ‘reactive’ approach whereby the focus is on responding to crises and accidents after they happen rather than establishing a proactive framework for technology design (Schatzberg, 2015).
Technologists need to be liberated from instrumental reasoning that reduces their role to that of finding the most effective means to a given end. They must also be rescued from determinists who view technology as self-directed and independent of any moral compass. Instead, they need to be encouraged to create and popularize a cultural vision of technology that includes ethical principles and a recognition that they are accountable for the impact of their inventions (Schatzberg, 2015). This is the only way that the challenges created by the new technology can be properly addressed.