New York State Standards
MST 5.5  Key Idea

Technology has been the driving force
in the evolution of society
from an agricultural to an industrial to an information base.

Technology is the use of knowledge to turn resources into goods or services that society needs or wants.

Services are work done for others as a business or occupation, performing a useful function.

Families of Technology

• Physical technologies satisfy our physical needs for shelter, clothing, transportation, etc.  

• Biotechnologies work to improve our quality of life.  They include medicine, waste management, agriculture, etc.

• Information technologies allow us to communicate ideas and process data.  

You may have heard of these ages: The Classical Age, Dark Ages and The Renaissance.  These are ways of classifying the history of humanity.  Here are the names of a few of the ages used to classify the history of technology.

• Stone Age- the start of technology, stone tools and fire.

• Bronze Age- bronze (metal) tools.

• Agricultural Age- life centered around farms.  Goods were hand crafted.

• Industrial Age- led to growth of cities as people moved closer to their work in factories.  Goods were mass produced.

• Information Age- computers allow for the storage, retrieval, manipulation and communication of huge quantities of data.

Are we moving into the Age of Biotechnology?  Recent advances in the understanding of genetics and DNA may lead to exciting and controversial new uses of technology.

Innovation is introducing a new idea, device or process.
Invention is the new idea, device or process.