Technology & Man

We live in an era of space travel, advanced robotics and evolutionary biotechnology. Man has reached a peak in scientific knowledge and technological achievement. With the development of jets and high speed vehicles, traveling the world has become faster and easier than ever before. Man has not only conquered every distant corner of our planet, from the heights of the Mount Everest to the depths of the Mariana Trench, but also reached beyond, into the realms of outer space. Growth in the information and communication technology has enabled man to span the world with only his finger tips. Computers, mobile phones and other gadgets are becoming smaller, and more sophisticated accessible with every passing day. This has made life more comfortable and luxurious to man.

However, this did not happen over night. The development of technology began in the Stone Ages itself, when man first began to wonder at the awe of fire and the moon. Scientific knowledge was slowly acquired, as man first discovered the uses of fire and took the first step in technological development with the invention of the wheel.

Science and technology developed hand in hand with civilization. As great races of man began to form communities and territories, and eventually developed these into great empires, technology also began to develop and expand. Man’s knowledge of nature was manifested into great technological achievements of the era. Science and engineering marvels like the grand pyramids of Egypt, the Great Wall of China, the elegant pagodas of Sri Lanka, the Roman architectural masterpieces and aqueducts are some examples of ancient technology.

Nevertheless, man’s supreme capacity to transform this world was not evident until the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. With the turn of the 18th century, inventions like the steam engine and innovations in the coal mining, iron founding and the textile manufacture transformed Britain and eventually, their influence spread across Europe, North America and the rest of the world. It was in this age that the true impact of technology first became evident. As solely profit-oriented factories multiplied across traditional agricultural lands, forcing not only men and women, but also children to work in hazardous, inhumane conditions for long hours, the negative consequences of technology on society began to emerge. Crime and corruption engulfed mankind, drowning traditional values and morality. The socio-economic battle of this century was well portrayed by the eminent novelist Charles Dickens in his world famous book ‘Oliver Twist’. However, the even more disastrous natural devastation that technology had caused was unknown for another century or so.

Today, we are more aware of how technology has impacted every aspect of human life. In recent years, there has been a lot of discussion on, rather than man utilizing technology, whether he has become a slave to the machine. We are hopelessly bound to our computers and mobiles, and it has come to a point, where, mankind will be doomed if technology fails us. A renewed interest in religion and exercise, as well as relaxation and recreation methods including eco travel and vacations has emerged to save man from his struggle and stress.

We are also alert of the fact that the future of mankind, as well as our planet, depends on man’s actions and application of his technological knowledge and abilities. This revelation has led to an interest in ‘Green Technology’. Green Technology, also referred to as environmental or clean technology, can be defined as the use of man’s knowledge of environmental sciences to curb the negative effects of human development on nature and better the situation of the environment. The focus in Green technology is sustainable human development. Some areas scientists are interested in developing in the future are bio fuels, electric and solar powered cars as well as recycling and waste management technologies. Hopefully, the surfacing of these modern areas of technology will bring with it the dawn of a better tomorrow for both man and his home, planet Earth.