Technology is a term dating back to the early 17th century that meant 'systematic treatment' (from Greek Τεχνολογία, from the Greek: τέχνη, romanized: tékhnē, lit.'craft, art' and -λογία, 'study, knowledge'). As a result, there are ongoing philosophical and political debates about the role and use of technology, the ethics of technology, and ways to mitigate its downsides. While technology contributes to economic development and improves human prosperity, it can also have negative impacts like pollution and resource depletion, and can cause social harms like technological unemployment resulting from automation. More recent technological inventions, including the printing press, telephone, and the Internet, have lowered barriers to communication and ushered in the knowledge economy. The invention of the wheel in the Bronze Age allowed greater travel and the creation of more complex machines. The earliest known technology is the stone tool, used during prehistoric times, followed by the control of fire, which contributed to the growth of the human brain and the development of language during the Ice Age. Technological advancements have led to significant changes in society.

Technology plays a critical role in science, engineering, and everyday life. The word technology can also mean the products resulting from such efforts, : 117 including both tangible tools such as utensils or machines, and intangible ones such as software.

Technology is the application of conceptual knowledge for achieving practical goals, especially in a reproducible way.

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