Technology and History, Essay Example

Are we dismissing a vital piece of the puzzle? Does technology follow, or lead? If it leads, are we moving forward blindly, and ill prepared to deal with the kind of future we are fashioning for ourselves with our own tools?

The history of technology is the history of the invention of tools and techniques as old as human history. Technological history has enabled human beings to come up with new things every day which has endeavored people to travel to places that they could not otherwise go and be able to do what they could have not otherwise done.

Technological artefacts are functions of an economy that is a drive to the economic growth and plays a major part in human life everyday. The society’s cultural practices greatly affect technological innovations. Technological progresses are a means to human civilization, a driving factor for political development and project military strategies. Technological trends in any organization can take a lead on, wait for a few first movers and then follow, or simply get out of the way and let the trend pass (OECD, 2000).

A lot of things are done to a lot of people in a very short period of time, the technology referred to as cloud computing. It has taken a significant lead in fashioning our future by building data centers that enhance the tools and services provided. This technological advancement has significantly reduced the cost of production, increased the saving and business agility (Hall, 140–183).

With increases in network connectivity, web presentation improvements and increasing capabilities on netbooks, notebooks and use of mobiles phones, business professionals are now becoming more aggressive regardless their geographical location. Politicians are taking advantage of the tremendous power and capability of these technologies to work from home or different office locations.

Unified communications has allowed greater flexibility and dependability in the military strategies and operations. Use of information technology staff for instance, has enabled the military to detect, determine and predict the rival preparedness. Economic structures are planned, implemented and monitored using the technological tools. The economical growth of any state depends on the technological level of the state.

Think of a line of theoretical understanding or “Wisdom,” and a line of “technical know how.” Do you think they are in balance in our time, and if not, how much have ignoring technology’s position and effects that lead us in new directions been problems in our educational and leadership institutions?

The technical know how is behind the theoretical understanding. Most people in the society for instance know and understand the mobile phones but do not understand fully other uses of the phones apart from calling and receiving calls. The mobile connectivity can be used in learning and giving instructions to a number of students and employees all over the world without travelling and make physical contacts. An instructor can contact his students from whichever physical location and have a conference with the participants (Oliner & Sichel, 57).

Much has been ignored in the line of technology in educational and leadership institutions. The technology is moving at a faster rate than the people can discern and accept for integration and use in education. The level of development which forms the basis of implementation and adaptation of technology is also moving at a slower rate. The cultural pratices are not ready to embrace new techniques.

While there a lot that is going on research on new technologies and their effects on teaching, learning and leadership, there is little rigorous, large scale data that makes for solid research as reported by educational experts. Very few companies and institutions promote the technology and hence the objectivity loses the point (Tassey, 153-185).

The rapid and constant pace of change in technology is creatinmg both opportunities and challenges in education and leadership institution. The techonlogy is moving at a faster rate than we can. Some institutions are keeping up with advancement in technology while others are lagging far behind. The challenge is which technology works best in education.

Works cited

Hall, Bronwyn “The Private and Social Returns to Research and Development,” in B. Smith and C. Barfield, (eds.), Technology, R&D, and the Economy. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution and the American Enterprise Institute: 140–183, 1996.

OECD A New Economy?: The Changing Role of Innovation and Information Technology in Growth. Paris: Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation, 2000.

Oliner, S.& Sichel D. The Resurgence of Growth in the Late 1990s: Is Information Technology the Story? Washington, DC: Federal Reserve Board, 2000.

Tassey “Policy Issues for R&D Investment in a Knowledge-Based Economy,” Journal of Technology Transfer 29:2 (April 2004), 153–185, 2004.