Name three pieces of technology that have affected your life so far.

What is Technology??

What is Technology? Technology is not: A lot of complicated equipment Really expensive machines Difficult procedures Only used by scientists, So what is it? It is used by every human on Earth. Technology: the human ability to make and use tools to become better adapted to the environment. Technology is tools and the ways tools are used.

Technological Artifacts Technology is often described as tools created by humans. A stone arrowhead is a piece of technology from the Stone Age. A car is a piece of technology from the modern era. These physical things are artifacts of technology. Artifacts: a man- made object or tool. Artifacts are the material representations of technology. Ex. Crowbar, wheel, arrow, satellite, nuclear reactor.

Technological Methods The use of technology is as old as humanity. Ancient humans used fire to cook food, prepare farmland, and scare away predators. Coming up with new ways of using tools is one definition of technology. Thinking about problems in a different way often leads to the development of new tools or designs (new or improved technology). For example a wheel can be used to : 1) attach to an axle for transportation 2) wrapped with a rope to create a pulley 3) mounted horizontally to spin pottery or as a centrifuge.

System of Production Henry Ford is often referred to as the father of the assembly line. An assembly line: is a process used to make a product by adding one piece at a time. It is often Used in factories to make everything From cars to refrigerators.

Assembly Line In 1908, Henry Ford’s Model-T sold for around $850. By 1925, using the assembly line system, Henry reduced the cost to $260. That’s a 70% reduction in price! A system of production is a specific example of how technological methods can solve problems. In our example, a system was developed to lower the cost and increase the production of the automobile.

Social-Technical System A social technical system: is the way the technology impacts our lives and how we use it for our benefit. For example, the car has many advanced technological artifacts (tires, body, computers, etc) and it is assembled using an advanced production system (a method) but it also affects society because there are literally thousands of different jobs associated with the car.

Technology and Science Science and technology are not the same. Science is the process humans use to question and explore the natural world, while technology is the process humans use to solve problems. An engineer: a person who uses math and science to solve practical problems. They often create and improve technological artifacts. Science and technology work hand in hand because technology provides the tools scientists need to gain more knowledge.

Science, Technology and Society Society decides what type of technology is useful and acceptable. For every technological advancement made, there are drawbacks to consider. For example, wind power is a renewable source of energy. However, the windmills used to harness this power source take up a great deal of space and are unattractive. Wind power is also more expensive and less reliable. You have to think of each individual technology in terms of risks and benefits. This is called a risk-benefit analysis. Risk benefit analysis: to investigate the risks and benefits of doing something. If the benefits outweigh the risks than it is an advisable course of action. If the risks outweigh the benefits, it is not favorable.