KnowledgeContext promotes technological literacy through a variety of programs, including development and distribution of curriculum, publishing a book, speaking at conferences, and appearing on the media. http://www.knowledgecontext.org/index.htm
A wikipedia entry on the history of technology http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology#History_of_technology
Click here to go to a great source of information about technological changes during the industrial revolution.
Leonardo DaVinci museum from his hometown of Vinci, Italy. This is a museum web site but the juxtaposition of DaVinci's designs and drawings of the objects he imagined captures some of the idea that designs and the objects which result from them are different parts of the same whole.
American Experience: Technology Timeline
A timeline of some of America’s technological innovations and inventions
by pbs.
A timeline of different
inventions during the Twentieth century.
Invention
of the Radio
This web page comes from a course on Ethics and the Design of Technology offered at Penn State University in 2001. The page is for an assignment where students are challenged to think about how technology effects the natural, social, cultural, or political environments in which we live. What is good about it are the questions asked, even though some of the terms and certainly the context of the course is unknown just from looking at this page. The questions, nevetheless, are still applicable and certainly get the reader thinking about the effect of technology on these different environments and activities. http://www.courses.psu.edu/sts/sts233_pam208/non-focal.html
Smalley, S., (2005). City aids family in suit against gun maker. Boston Globe, September 13, 2005. After the Boston Red Sox won the 2004 American League pennant in professional baseball, thousands of people gathered in the area of Fenway Park in Boston to celebrate. Tragically, Victoria Snelgrove was killed by a pepper pellet fired by a Boston Police officer. This article refers to a law suit against pepper pellet manufacturer. Boston Globe article of Sept., 13, 2005 http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/09/13/city_aids_family_in_suit_against_gun_maker/
This definition is related to the domain of distance education.Technology is "Mechanisms for distributing messages, including postal systems, radio and television broadcasting companies, telephone, satellite and computer networks."
http://www1.worldbank.org/disted/glossary.html
This definition is related to technical management.
Technology is "Specification requirements shall be delineated in light of acceptable technological risks defined by risk assessment."
http://sparc.airtime.co.uk/users/wysywig/gloss.htm
This definition is related to biotechnology.
Technology is "The laboratory manipulation of DNA in which DNA, or fragments of DNA from different sources, are cut and recombined using enzymes. This recombinant DNA is then inserted into a living organism. rDNA technology is usually used synonymously with genetic engineering."
http://www.ncbiotech.org/biotech101/glossary.cfm
This definition is related to Space for Species — an effort “to monitor migratory animals, like the polar bear, eider, caribou, peregrine falcon, and leatherback seaturtle, as well as their habitats, from beyond the Earth's atmosphere.”
Technology is "The study and/or application of the mechanical arts and applied sciences."
http://www.spaceforspecies.ca/glossary/t_u.htm
This definition is related to organizational development and knowledge management.
Technology is the set of tools both hardware (physical) and software that help us act and think better. Technology includes all the objects from pencil and paper to the latest electronic gadget. Electronic and computer technology help use share information and knowledge quickly and efficiently. What was previously slow and tedious is now easier and more realistic."
http://home.earthlink.net/~ddstuhlman/defin1.htm
This definition is related to international economics.
Technology is "The complete set of knowledge about how to produce in an economy at a point in time, including techniques of production that are available but not economically viable. 2. The set of production functions available to an economy. 3. Referring to industries that are experiencing, or recently have experienced, technological progress."
http://www-personal.umich.edu/~alandear/glossary/t.html
This definition is from the Massachusetts Department of Education Science and Technology/Engineering
Curriculum Framework - Spring 2001
Technology is "Human innovation in action that involves the generation of knowledge and processes to develop systems that solve problems and extend human capabilities; 2. The innovation, change, or modification of the natural environment to satisfy perceived human needs and wants."
http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/scitech/2001/resources/glossary.html
This definition is from the state of Queensland, Australia and relates to government policy for growth.
"Technology refers to the body of know-how about the means and methods of producing goods and services. Modern technology is increasingly science-based, but also includes methods of organisation as well as physical technique. The application of new technologies, particularly computers and software applications, has been a major factor driving Queensland’s productivity growth in recent decades."
http://www.smartstate.qld.gov.au/strategy/strategy05_15/glossary.shtm
This definition is related to medical science.
Technology is "Mechanical devices, pharmaceuticals, and techniques used in medical and surgical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. These devices and techniques are often related to innovations in treatment methods and advances in patient care."
http://www.dph.state.ct.us/OPPE/sha99/glossary.htm
This definition is related to a college course in anthropology.
Technology is the means by which human societies interact directly with and adapt to the environment. Technology can also refer to the steps taken, or manufacturing process used, to produce an artifact.
http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~mmoss/GLOSSARY.HTM
This definition is related to the Engineering Council of South Africa:
Technology is the process of applying established knowledge to meet identified market and social needs.
http://www.ee.wits.ac.za/~ecsa/gen/g-04.htm
This definition is related to WordNet a lexical database for the English language from the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton University:
Technology is: the practical application of science to commerce or industry engineering: the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems; "he had trouble deciding which branch of engineering to study"
http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
This definition is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Technology (Gr. τεχνολογια < τεχνη "craftsmanship" + λογος "word, reckoning" + the suffix ια) has more than one definition. One is the development and application of tools, machines, materials and processes that help to solve human problems. As a human activity, technology predates both science and engineering. ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology