Whether it is the sublime science of planetary exploration or the daily task of changing gear in a car, technology shapes and influences our world. It has both positive and negative consequences and can impact our everyday lives in a variety of ways. It also plays an important role in our interactions with each other and the natural world.
Technological change has been the driving force of history. The human race has been creating technology since the first controlled use of fire by our hominid ancestors over half a million years ago and continues with everything from computers to cellphones to space rockets. It is important to note that when we talk about Technology we are referring to the process of creatively applying knowledge to organised tasks involving people and machines to meet sustainable goals. In this context it encompasses both the soft technologies such as economics, management and administration and the hard sciences like physics and chemistry.
Software, which is a key component of modern Technology, is a general term that includes the programs a computer uses to function. It includes word processing, gaming, audio and visual technology as well as the underlying infrastructure and networks that support these applications. All of these applications are designed to make a specific type of work easier for humans to do. For example, the newest forms of technology allow teachers to mark students exams electronically rather than on paper. This allows the teacher to focus on student learning instead of spending a lot of time on administrative activities.