Technology, technique, and culture.

Today we discussed the notions of technology, technique, and culture.

Technology

By the 1860s, the interpretation of technology shifted from art and craft to the application of a body of knowledge to a specific field, or more easily put, the application of science to production. Over the past few decades, the word ‘technology’ describes overall system of machines and processes.

We are now said to be living in, or around, technology. ‘Technology’ is now an abstract term that suggests an overarching system that we inhibit. I personally agree, fundamentally because the basis of this speculation has stood firm since ancient Greece. The average modern day individual has in some way, owns or uses a form of ‘technology’ daily to keep themselves connected to the world.

Techniques

“… if our civilization were to lose its techniques, all our machines and apparatus  would become one vast pile of junk” – William Barrett, 1978

Technique, simply put, is the ability to accomplish something with the use of skill. Losing our technique would imply the sense that we could not accomplish anything.  But as Potts suggests,

‘… sometimes it seems as though we do invent technologies that can operate themselves’

Would this mean that the human workforce will eventually become obsolete?

Simon mentioned that technology is always created by humans, and humans have absolute control over it. Jake says that we, as humans, are also created and ‘programmed’ by education but still have independent control over ourselves and he could see that being inherent in technology. Mardy talks about the notion of nature and technology, where technology has somehow coexisted with nature. For example, back then a stick and a rock could even be considered as technology.

Culture

This brings us to culture. Culture is dynamic because it changes over time. Culture is unpredictable – technology is being used in ways never foreseen by their inventors. So, it is safe to say that culture evolves with technology.