The document discusses the nature and evolution of technology, outlining its characteristics, social implications, and impact on society. It highlights both the positive effects, such as advancements in agriculture, transportation, communication, and education, and negative impacts, including resource depletion, population growth, and pollution. It emphasizes the need to balance technological development with environmental sustainability and societal needs.

1. Introduction
What is technology?
Definition matters because how we think of technology will determine how we think of its coming into
being. Arthur, (2009).
Technology is a means to a purpose. Arthur, (2009).
Purpose : idea, an aim, useful function, intended or desired result,object for which anything exists.
Techniques, methods which are used to change ideas (inputs) which may be resources into a
product or service (outputs).

2. Nature of Technology
Technology Evolve
Can Technology evolve?
“Whatever we might think or feel technology will progress and is dependent on precursors”
How Technology Evolves.
Technology share common characteristics of previous technologies.
Example: Mobile Phone , Electronic Mail

3. Nature of Technology
Combination Technology
Combination of technology seeks to combine existing technologies into new technologies to
help achieve a result or solve a problem due to old technologies not being able to satisfy ever changing
requirements.
Innovative theory proposed by Schumpeter. Sledzik,(2015).
GPS , Mobile Phone , Car

4. Technology from Phenomena
Phenomena anything that occurs in nature, a natural effect. Wiredu and Adjei (2015)
Technology is derived from constant capture of natural phenomena and utilization of such phenomena.
(Arthur et al, 2009).
Speed Gun, HydroPower Generation , Solar Panels etc.
Nature of Technology

5. Origin
What can be classified as a new technology? And how do they start?
1. There are cases where solutions are developed out of small engineering methods. That’s to say
components are combined to form a new invention.
1. Technologies also come to existence by following the process of innovation, where an idea is
conceptualized (Observe Problems), Develop solutions experiment the solution and implement the
solution.
1. Structural deepening is the situation where technology come to existence by building on the
limitation of existing systems.

6. Characteristics
1. Technology is a socially embedded human activity: Every technological outcome is designed in
and for a particular time and physical and social location
1. Extending human capability: While technology is inseparable from society and the environment it
creates a space for looking at the world differently.
1. A combination of component parts: Technology, according to Arthur, is to put together or
combine component parts or assembly component parts for a common purpose. It can be said that
a technology may have several component parts or single component part but may pass as a
technology.
1. A technology consists of a main assembly: A technology in principle is supposed to perform a
particular task or executes its base principle.
1. Technologies, have a recursive structure: They consist of technologies within technologies all the
way down to the elemental parts.

7. Consequences
Human society and technology are inseparable; society has a relationship with technology and vice
versa. Need for technology in our daily life and demands keeps on changing. Society has incorporated
the use of technology which affected the way we communicate, do business, learn and even travel, all of
which has made living comfortable yet technology has also caused us concerns. If not properly used it
can cause a serious threat to lives in society and even pollution to the environment hence the need to call
for proper use of technology. The biggest challenge facing people is to determine the type of future we
need to have and then create relevant technologies which will simplify the way we do things.

8. Positive impact on Society
Technology Has Mechanized Agriculture
Technology has help in manufacturing machines for plowing, sowing, watering and harvesting. The use
of technology in agriculture has also resulted in the manufacturing of genetic crops which can grow fast
and they can be resistant to many pests and diseases.. A good example is Egypt, this is a desert country
which receives little rain, but small and big farmers have used automated sprinklers to irrigate their farms

9. Positive impact on Society
Technology Has Improved Transportation
Transportation is one of the basic areas of technological activity. Both society and businesses have
benefited from the new transportation methods. Transportation provides mobility for people and goods.
Technology has helped in advancing all the four types of transportation road, air, water, and space(
recently NASA sent a spaceship to the sun)

10. Positive impact on Society
Technology Has Improved Communication
Communication is used for a number of purposes. Both society and organizations depend on
communication to transfer information. People use technology to communicate with each other.
Electronic media like radios, televisions, internet, and social media have improved the way we exchange
ideas which can develop our societies. In many countries, radios and televisions are used to voice the
concerns of the society, they organize live forums where the community can contribute through mobile
phones or text service systems like tweeter.

11. Positive impact on Society
Technology Has Improved Education
Technology has improved education and learning process: Education is the backbone of every economy.
People need well and organized educational infrastructures so that they can learn how to interpret
information. Technologies like smart boards, computers, smart phones, iPads, projectors, and internet are
being used in classrooms to boost students moral to learn. The business community has invested money
in various educational technologies which can be used by both teachers and their students. For example,
on iTunes, you will find many educational applications which can allow students and teachers exchange
academic information at any time, this has made learning mobile.

12. Negative impact on Society
Resource Depletion
The more demand for new technologies and advancement of current technologies, the more pressure we
put on earth’s natural resources. That means that at one time, we shall be left with no natural resource
which can be a problem to the future generation and economy. Likewise, the intensive farming practices
will deplete the soil. This makes heavy applications of commercial fertilizers necessary to yield healthy
harvests, but also these fertilizers have chemicals which are dangerous to the soil and human lives

13. Negative impact on Society
Increased Population
Population Increase: Technology has helped us live longer by improving health facilities and aiding in
the research for solutions for most health problems which affect humans. This is good news for
developed countries but is bad news for developing countries which have not been in a position to access
these health care benefits brought by technology. This has helped them balance their population in
relation to natural resources and other opportunities which come with a planned population. This is
different in developing countries, the rate at which people produce is very high, the mortality rate is high,
food is scarce and health care is poor.

14. Negative impact on Society
Increased Pollution
Pollution affects the land we grow crops on, the water we drink and the air we breathe. The increased
demand for new technologies and advancement of technologies has resulted in many manufacturing and
processing factories. So the more technology we enjoy, the more we harm our environment. Experts
have tried to implement ways of reducing this impact by encouraging factories to go green, to a small
extent, this has been achieved through the development of green technologies like; green cars, green
computers, but a great effort is still needed to reduce the pollution of the air and the earth.