Technology is the application of science and engineering for human benefit. It includes tools such as computers, telecommunications, and machinery. It also includes a wide range of activities that enhance or change culture, such as art and music.
In modern society, technology has changed the nature of work and leisure. It has made it easier to communicate and collaborate, and it has increased the amount of information available to humans. It has also created new forms of pollution and depleted natural resources, to the detriment of the environment.
Social and civic innovation is a process of using technology to improve people’s lives. It may include using technology to build communities or create public goods, such as infrastructure or services.
Emerging technologies (also called “new” or “unique”) are a form of technology that is rapidly changing and has not been fully developed yet. They often raise new ethical questions and require further investigation to understand their implications.
Risk of technological failure is an unavoidable part of developing and deploying technology. Despite what precautions are taken and what money is invested, there will always be a chance that something will go wrong with a piece of equipment or software.
Moreover, a successful effort to prevent or mitigate the risk of technology failure requires an understanding of its probability and a measure of the harm it would do. For example, a computer system that fails could cause a loss of data or information.
