Technology is the application of knowledge for achieving practical goals in a reproducible way. It can also refer to the products resulting from such efforts, including both tangible tools like utensils or machines and intangible ones such as software. Throughout history, technology has greatly changed the course of human societies and has given rise to new social and economic structures.

The development of technology is often driven by the need to meet human needs and aspirations, such as food, clothing, shelter, transportation and communication. However, technology has been shaped as much by the human drive for innovation and creativity as by the need to solve specific problems. This is especially true when scientific breakthroughs occur that allow scientists to pursue a new technology.

Many technological developments have large side effects. This is not only true of larger technologies such as nuclear reactors and agriculture, but also of smaller, everyday ones such as refrigerators. Even relatively benign technologies, such as the use of a certain type of gas in cooling systems, can have significant environmental consequences if there are enough of them and/or they are deployed over a wide area. Scientists and engineers have a responsibility to look as far ahead and as widely afield as possible in designing technologies, to estimate benefits, side effects, and risks, and to develop detection and monitoring methods for such problems.

There are various different types of technology that exist in the world today, some of them being more revolutionary than others. For instance, there is a type of technology that allows people to work and live more efficiently by making it easier for them to communicate with one another. There is also a type of technology that enables people to access more information quickly and easily. This kind of technology is very useful for businesses as it helps them stay competitive.

In addition, technology enables businesses to keep their data organized and easily accessible so that they can make informed decisions on how to run their business efficiently. It can also help them save money by eliminating the need to hire extra employees to handle the increased workload.

Technology is also used by non-profit organizations to stay competitive and deliver their services effectively. These organizations rely on the best Information Technology to ensure that their clients receive the services that they need. This type of technology is also used by educational institutions to make their classes more effective and interesting. The use of technology can also help teachers to reduce the amount of time they spend planning lessons and preparing for assessments. It can also be used to create online signup forms for student projects, so students can complete them on their own time and schedule presentations at a convenient time. Using these kinds of technologies can help teachers to save up to 4.6 hours of class time per week. This is a huge benefit to teachers who are already overburdened with their responsibilities.