Technology is the use of knowledge and skills to create tools, devices or systems that meet human needs. It includes everything from the Antikythera mechanism, a mechanical analog computer dating back to the first century BC, to modern smartphone apps that manage finances, schedules and contact lists.

Technological advancements have made it possible for people to live longer and work more efficiently. They have also helped to improve the quality of life for many, but there are negative aspects of this development that must be addressed, such as technology dependency and cyberbullying.

A fundamental issue with technology is that it necessarily prioritises certain paths and neglects others. This is because efficient routing of finite energy and attention must also involve directing that energy away from something else. For example, the introduction of digital cameras effectively deprioritized analogue photography pathways and associated behaviors – such as using inefficient darkrooms or spending hours physically retouching photographs.

Resistance to technology may be due to a fear of change, but it could also be caused by a belief that some jobs will be replaced by robots or artificial intelligence. To counter this, businesses can demonstrate the benefits of new technology, provide training and support staff to develop their skills. They can also highlight that the development of smarter machines will bring with it a greater range of products and services for customers to choose from, as well as making existing tasks easier for humans to do.