America Is: Technology

Jonny Probst

5/5/15

Technology

To me, America means technology. There are so many different types of technology, which makes it such a fantastic thing. Without technology, our daily lives as Americans would so different that I can’t even imagine. Almost every aspect of our lives involve technology. Technology has also shaped how our entire country has developed over the years.

What is technology? “Technology directly means ‘art, skill, cunning of hand.’ It is the collection of techniques, methods or processes used in the production of goods or services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the knowledge of techniques, processes, etc. or it can be embedded in machines, computers, devices and factories, which can be operated by individuals without detailed knowledge of the workings of such things.”

Clearly the word “technology” is a very broad topic. I am going to try to narrow it down a little bit to the things that interest me the most. My favorite parts of technology are cell phones and automobiles.

Before I begin, some confusion around technology, science, and engineering should be cleared. “Science is the reasoned investigation or study of natural phenomena, aimed at discovering enduring principles among elements of the phenomenal world by employing formal techniques such as the scientific method. Technologies are not usually exclusively products of science, because they have to satisfy requirements such as utility, usability and safety. Engineering is the goal-oriented process of designing and making tools and systems to exploit natural phenomena for practical human means, often (but not always) using results and techniques from science. The development of technology may draw upon many fields of knowledge, including scientific, engineering, mathematical, linguistic, and historical knowledge, to achieve some practical result. Technology is often a consequence of science and engineering — although technology as a human activity precedes the two fields. For example, science might study the flow of electrons in electrical conductors, by using already-existing tools and knowledge. This new-found knowledge may then be used by engineers to create new tools and machines, such as semiconductors, computers, and other forms of advanced technology. In this sense, scientists and engineers may both be considered technologists; the three fields are often considered as one for the purposes of research and reference.”

To fully understand it, you need to take a look at the history of technology. In the early beginnings of civilization, the only forms of technology were clothing, stone tools, fire, and shelter. They were very basic, but provided the base to be improved upon and added to.

After years and years of little improvements and development, technology led to the invention of the wheel, which gave birth to a new way of transportation, wagons. Theses wagons evolved greatly over the years into our common day motor vehicles. The most common automobile in early America is obviously the Ford Model T, it was the first affordable car for middle class Americans. This new and affordable technology changed many American lives. It also had other impacts, such as the economy. Since traveling was easier, people started moving out of the huge cities into less populated suburban areas because they could drive to work. This also made the big cities grow because travel was more popular and easier than ever before, people started to flow in.