Technology is the application of scientific knowledge to organised tasks involving people and machines in order to achieve sustainable goals.
There are many different kinds of technology. In some cases, it is a specific set of tools; in others, it is a certain way of doing something.
The word technology comes from the Greek words techne, art, or skill, and logos, a word for inward thought. It is used to describe a system of techniques, skills, processes, tools and raw materials that humankind has accumulated over time in order to gain or produce desired things.
For example, in the field of science, technology is often essential for purposes of measurement, data collection, computation, transportation to research sites, sample collection, protection from hazardous materials, and communication.
Ultimately, however, the key to all technologies is the people who make them.
In a nutshell, technology is the way humans and machines have adapted to a world that has evolved over millennia to be more efficient and more comfortable. It makes everyday activities easier and faster, which leads to more productivity.
This efficiency can be seen in the workplace, from email versus snail mail to cloud vs. in-person collaboration and automated room booking vs. user-coordinated reservations, and it can also be seen in the classroom, where students have access to a variety of programs at the click of a button that allow them to adapt their learning plan to fit their needs.
It can be difficult to tailor a learning plan to each student’s individual needs, but technology can help by making it easy to find resources that match each student’s level and interests. It can also give students the opportunity to work in small groups or centers, freeing teachers up to attend to individual and group needs.