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Etymology . The term technology comes from the Greek language: tekhnologia (treatment or dissertation on an art, exposition of the rules of an art), consisting of: tekhnë (art, craft) + - logos (word). The reference to the profession implies the application of skills and knowledge in practice. The original meaning in Greek was "discourse on the arts." In English it appeared in the 17th century, being used to signify a discussion only on the applied arts. The term "arts" here means the production of artifacts, not only "objects of art", but, more generally, products. In the early 20th century, the term technology it included an ever-widening field of means, processes, and ideas, in addition to tools and machines.
There are a huge number of published definitions of technology , so getting an adequate, complete, consistent definition of technology is only possible in one book. Each profession has a different definition of technology. Some definitions of technology are set out below. Thus, the Explanatory Dictionary of the Romanian DEX online [1] contains the following definitions:
1. Science of methods and means of processing raw materials, materials and data.
2. The set of processes, methods, operations, etc. used for the purpose of obtaining a particular product.
Oxford dictionaries [2] present several variants of definitions:
In connection with the last definition above, it should be noted that the distinctions between science, technology and engineeringthey are not very clear. Engineering is the process oriented on objectives of design and execution of tools and systems, to exploit natural phenomena for practical purposes, useful to people, often using results and techniques from science. But technology is not to be confused with science. Scientific research aims to acquire or consolidate our general or specific knowledge of the physical world, using formal techniques, such as scientific methods, while the application of technologies aims to produce goods in industrial processes. However, science and technology are considered as two parallel streams of knowledge that have interdependencies and mutual relations.
The Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (2010) [3] defines technology as:
According to the Encyclopedia of Physical Science and Technology (1992) [4] "technology is knowledge and systematic action, usually in industrial processes, but applicable in any repetitive action."
The McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia [5] provides the following definitions:
Technologies are usually the result of research and development activities that aim to use in practice inventions, innovations and in general discoveries, for the creation of products or services.
According to the Business Dictionary [6] technology is "the application for a specific purpose of information in the design, production and use of goods and services, as well as in the organization of human activities."
JMRibault et al. (1991) [7] considers technology to be a complex set of knowledge, means and know-how ( French : savoir-faire ), used in combination for a production. In this context, knowledge refers to technical knowledge on the processes of inputs to the production system in marketable outputs (products or services).
A complex definition of technology that highlights the knowledge and means necessary for the application of technology: a systematized set of knowledge about human activities, which make use of results of scientific research, experiments, calculations and projects, as well as tools, machines and apparatus; In a narrow sense, technology is the set of processes (methods, recipes, rules) and material means (tools, machines, devices) used to carry out an activity. [8] Technological knowledge is built using scientific methods.
Burgelman et al. (2004) [9] define technology as the practical knowledge, skills and artifacts that can be used to develop products and services, as well as their production and delivery systems. Technologies can be incorporated into people, materials, cognitive and physical processes, installations, equipment and tools.
J.Paap (1994) [10] defined technology as "the use of science-based knowledge to meet a need". This definition describes the concept of technology as a "bridge" between science and new products. The definition captures that new developments in technology stem from advances in basic science.
Masayuki Kondo (2001) [11] defines technology as "the knowledge necessary to design and / or produce a product or group of services retained by a person or organization. It can be incorporated into machines and other products or services. knowledge resulting from experience in R&D, design, production and capital investment is mostly tacit, ie it is not explicit in any collection of textbooks or detailed blueprints {{en: blueprint}} ... Knowledge is coded if expressed in in digital form or in software, or are based on science. They are tacit if they are expressed in analogue form or in hardware, or they are based on skills. "
Technology is intended to achieve a specific goal or purpose , so it is specifically implemented to achieve that goal: for example, it can be design or laboratory technology (experimental CD for creating products, equipment, processes, etc.), technology production / manufacturing, product technology (incorporated in the product), intended to fulfill the function of the product during its use, management technology, etc.
The above definitions, very varied, consider either that technology is a system of knowledge or that it is an application (ie a process). They demonstrate that technology is a complex phenomenon, and that different definitions reflect different aspects of technology. Thus, an analysis of existing definitions and the phenomenon itself demonstrates that technology has three components: structural, mental and material. [12] Knowledge corresponds to the mental component, and applications constitute the material projection (materialization) of this knowledge. The structural component corresponds to the methods and procedures specified for the representation of a concrete technology.
