Technology is a broad term that encompasses the methods used in the application of new and improved systems and devices to meet human needs and solve problems. Technology has influenced the course of history and the nature of human society. It has driven agricultural revolutions that increased food supply and improved the quality of life; it was instrumental in a number of the great scientific discoveries; it was a crucial element in overcoming the physical barriers to communication that allowed humans to interact on a global scale; and it continues to propel social changes as we use the printing press, telephone, computer and Internet to communicate and advance knowledge.

There are two sharply divergent traditions of talking about technology. One approach, which Schatzberg calls the ‘instrumental’ approach, sees technology as an instrument with specific functions. This view is exemplified by the work of Aristotle, Hugh of St Victor, Johann Beckmann and Talcott Parsons, among others.

The other approach is a more holistic view that focuses on the interaction between technology and culture. Its early advocates include the German social scientist Walter Sombart, whose work was expanded by Thorstein Veblen to become the broad concept known as Technik.

Modern technologies improve the human environment, solve problems and help people do their jobs better. For example, electronic technology allows us to work from anywhere on the planet using computers, smartphones, digital cameras, televisions and other devices that are connected to the internet. These technologies also make it possible for companies to use online tools for customer service, which leads to an increase in sales and profitability.