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In order to describe the impact of technology on society, I feel compelled to think about technology itself. When I looked up the word technology, I found; "The meaning 'science of the mechanical and industrial arts' is first recorded 1859." The term hi-tech didn't arrive until 1972. In the meanwhile, the lives of all the persons alive and well in that time period, were certainly impacted by technology; in particular the Industrial Revolution.

Today, we are beginning to experience anticipation about nanotechnology, and the impact it will have on our lives. I am told we can expect it to have an even larger impact than the Industrial Revolution of the 1800's.

Technology conforms to the notion we create ways to order and transform matter or information, so as to reach certain predetermined ends of particular value. Then there is another level of reference to consider. It is the concept that the various tools, devices, and procedures newly defined or invented, will create another level of advance to the process itself. We have a lot of items to consider. I don't think I can fit the list into this article, but I will mention a few things.

From early in the morning, until another bedtime hour arrives, we are impacted by the current sizzle of technological invention. Roosters are emulated on digital clocks, the urgency of the day ahead is generated ahead of time by the vibration of our watches and cell phones. Our cars require mechanics to go to special schools so they can repair intricate the intricate systems that are the heartbeat of our family car, or other kinds of service vehicles. Pressure cookers of yore have been replaced by microwave ovens, and specially coated cookware.

In the field of medicine, the vast display of machines that see us in all our glory, from the details of our genome to the generation of a new layer of derma, or the surgical replacement of body parts, including the transplanting of a human face, are astonishing and magnificent advances for us all.

Individually, we have come to enjoy the facility of quicker and more extensive communication, but somehow less community. Isolation seems to be a byproduct of being easily entertained without needing another human being. As a community, we can rejoice in the knowledge we have to put less effort into being in touch with the world. Television delivers it to all of us equally and without prejudice. The downside is that we have to make special efforts to participate in the society around us.

All in all, we are pretty lucky these days. We do have a generous supply of technology to make our lives better. There do seem to be some things that technology cannot order, create, or repair. We will have to make the world a better place by working with each other, so we can use technology to escort us into the future with prosperity and hope.

Learn more about this author, Jacquie Schmall.
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