Technology is the application of conceptual knowledge to achieve practical goals in a reproducible way. It includes both tangible tools like utensils and machines and intangible ones such as software. It enables us to do things we couldn’t do before, such as drive cars, take photos with smartphones or send information around the world at the speed of light. It is also about enabling people to work more efficiently and reach their goals with less effort.

The word technology is derived from the ancient Greek word techne, meaning skill in working with wood. It later came to mean a broad range of specialized skills and expertise, including medicine. In some contexts, it also refers to an artificial or synthetic device.

Today’s technologies can be seen in action all over the place, from smart factories to remote work, virtual learning platforms to e-books. Many of these are electronic devices that process and transmit information to and from people, such as laptops, tablets, computers, smartphones, printers, digital televisions, and communications systems like satellite networks and the internet.

Some of these devices have a very high level of interaction with people, while others are more distant and automated. The emergence of these technologies raises questions about how they may change society and how they should be regulated. For example, some fear that robots will replace jobs. However, a recent study found that the creation of new types of jobs has more than compensated for losses in traditional industries.