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Understanding Technology: Types, Benefits, Negative and Positive Impacts

Understanding Technology – Currently, almost all activities that we do in our daily lives are always related to technology. With this technology, an activity that we do becomes easier to do.

Then, what is actually meant by technology? Well, to find out more about technology, you can read this article until the end, Grameds.

Understanding Technology

Technology is a word taken from the English word “Technology” which is absorbed from the Greek word “Technologia”, meaning knowledge expertise. The root word of technology itself is “techne” which means a series of principles or a rational method which is also closely related to the creation of an object, knowledge and art regarding various principles or methods, and skills and certain expertise.

In general, the definition of technology is a science that studies skills in making a tool, as well as processing and extraction methods from an object, in order to be able to solve various specific problems and daily work of humans in general. Some experts then also explain that technology is a means and infrastructure made by humans in order to provide goods that are then needed for the sustainability and comfort of human life.

Previously, the definition of technology was limited to various objects that had a form, such as equipment and machines. However, today, technology is something that has a form and is intangible, such as science, computer software, and many more.

Meanwhile, in the Big Indonesian Dictionary (KBBI), technology is the entire means of providing goods needed for the continuity and comfort of human life. So, it can be said that with technology, an activity will be easier to complete.

Types of Technology

Today, technology will touch almost all areas of human life. Based on the explanation of technology above, below are several types of technology:

  1. Information Technology
    IT or Information Technology is a technology that can help humans in conveying information to others quickly and precisely. This technology itself consists of a set of software or software and hardware or hardware that will later be used in a need to process, send, and store information.

In fact, various technological tools are also able to provide various information accurately and up to date to humans in a timely manner. Some examples of information technology include television, online media (blogs, websites, and portals), and many more.

  1. Communication Technology
    Communication technology can be said to be a technology that is able to help humans in communicating with each other and sending information to each other by utilizing a certain device. Currently, communication technology can be said to be the most widely used technology in human life.

The development of advanced technology today has improved the way of conveying information from one place to another more quickly, comfortably and with a high level of accuracy. Some examples of communication technology include smartphones, email, fax machines, and chat applications.

  1. Transportation Technology
    Transportation technology can be said to be a technology that is able to help humans in moving from one location to another in a short period of time. Some examples of transportation technology include electric trains, electric cars, ships, planes, and many more.
  2. Educational Technology
    Just like the name implies, educational technology is a technology that is closely related to the world of education where educational activities will also use special tools.

This educational technology is also made to improve the performance of learners by managing and building different resources and technological processes in the classroom environment or in other learning environments.

Some examples of educational technology include the latest teaching methods, online learning, computer labs, various school laboratory equipment, and many more.

  1. Medical Technology
    Medical technology is a technology related to the world of medicine where medical activities then use various computer technologies. This type of technology itself is considered the most useful and beneficial in improving and extending human life.

This medical technology includes a very broad field, where innovation plays an important role in maintaining human health and minimizing pain and accelerating the recovery process.

Some examples of products that are included in medical technology include tensiometers, ultrasounds, stethoscopes, X-Ray devices, body thermometer injection devices, and infusions, health consultation software, and many more.

  1. Construction Technology
    Construction technology is a technology that is closely related to building structures. This technology is also related to the tools and methods used in building a building or house, both from its basic structure and to its advanced level.

Some examples of construction technology include software for drawing a structure or AutoCAD, construction work methods, and various heavy equipment, and others.

  1. Architectural Technology
    Architectural technology is an important component of building engineering and also architecture related to construction methods, building design, and building materials. This technology can be said to be an application of modern technology for the purposes of designing a building, both from the exterior and interior of the building.

Some examples of architectural technology include building science, building engineering techniques, concept development and building design, and others.

  1. Agricultural Technology
    Agricultural technology itself refers more to the methods and technologies for machines used in agricultural and plantation needs. This technology is one of the modern technologies that has a great impact and has greatly changed human history.

By using this technology, work that was previously done by humans and domestic animals can then be done using machines and various modern equipment.

Some examples of agricultural technology that are widely applied in Indonesia include the Indo combine harvester, transplanter, soybean dryer, superior seed sorting machine, and waste treatment installations.

Benefits of Technology

  1. Business Field
    The benefits of information technology can then be felt in the business world. People who are involved in the business world will certainly get a lot of benefits, one of which is an increase in profits.

This will then be felt by business people who run their businesses online. With only a gadget and quota, you can start a business even from home. Of course, this can then save costs and reduce operational costs.

  1. Banking Field
    The benefits of technology can also be felt in the banking world. Currently, deposits and withdrawals can be done online. With information technology, you no longer need to bother depositing or withdrawing money at the office during working hours.

In addition, there are many ATMs and cash deposit machines that you can find in every corner of the city with 24-hour non-stop service. This certainly saves a lot of time and money. With information technology, you can use various technologies more easily.

You can communicate long distance easily and quickly even to foreign countries. Until now, you can feel the ease of communicating through social media on your smartphone to everyone in the world.

  1. Education
    The benefits of information technology can also be felt in the field of education. Along with the development of technology, you can use the internet media to increase insight and knowledge that you may not be able to find in books. In addition, in terms of school registration, which previously had to come directly to the desired school, now it has started to implement online-based registration which is considered to be very time-saving and more efficient.

In fact, now there are universities that provide distance learning facilities. Through the internet, you can connect with lecturers without having to meet face to face.

  1. Health
    Another benefit of information technology that you can feel in the health sector. It can be said that technology is very instrumental in improving management in clinics or hospitals. If in the past, recording a patient’s health history was only written on a file, now recording is also done by archiving it on a computer.

This will then make it very easy for officers to find out the patient’s medical records quickly. This computer-based medical record itself includes the patient’s clinical data from the results of a doctor’s examination or from laboratory results.

Negative Impacts of Technology

  1. Cultural “Colonization”
    It is indeed good to learn foreign cultures. However, there are consequences that arise, namely that people will love foreign cultures more than their own culture. If that happens, indirectly local culture will then be colonized by foreign culture. As a result, cultural values ​​​​that are passed down from generation to generation will be lost and the cultural identity of the local country will also be lost.
  2. Declining National Morals
    In addition to positive culture, negative culture can also be easily accessed from the internet. For example, pornography, violence, and other bad cultures. If what is imitated by our nation’s children is negative culture, then the morals of a nation will continue to decline, especially in teenagers and children. Therefore, a filter is needed when a culture enters the country.
  3. Creation of Anti-Social
    Technological advances can also make someone enjoy their time with the computer and at home more than socializing with other people. One of the dangers of internet addiction is making someone anti-social in themselves. In fact, humans are social creatures who need other humans in their lives.

Positive Impact of Technology
In addition to having negative impacts, it turns out that technology also has positive impacts. The following are some of the positive impacts of technology.

  1. Easy to Do Activities
    The first benefit of technology is that it is easier for a person or company to do various activities. For example, companies that are easier to produce goods because of the existence of sophisticated machines.
  2. Building Relationships
    For companies, with the development of communication technology in the form of social media, it can be used to interact with customers and build relationships. This company gets direct feedback, ideas, testing and manages customer service faster.
  3. Easy to Get Information
    With the development of technology, it will be easier for a person or company to get information globally. In fact, it doesn’t take long to get it. In fact, you can also exchange information with people abroad, such as using social media.
  4. More Measurable Data
    With an easy tracking system, sending messages becomes more measurable, so that companies can immediately know the effectiveness of promotions. This is not the case with conventional media which takes a long time.

Thus the discussion of the definition of technology to its positive and negative impacts. Hopefully all the discussions above make it easier for you to use technology wisely.

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