It can help overcome some of the biggest challenges facing our society, such as climate change, famine and disease. Technological change underpins many of the advances we have seen in health, agriculture, energy and global development. Since the beginning of human culture, technology and society have been closely related. From stone tools to computers and the Internet, technologies have allowed people to shape the physical world and the world of knowledge to meet their needs and desires, extend the reach of their bodies, hands and minds, cross rivers and cross continents.
From arrowheads to communication devices, technologies have always been an intrinsic part of civilization, and this is particularly true today, at the beginning of the 21st century. This relationship is reflected in all revised national regulatory documents for this framework. It follows that awareness of the relationship between technology and society is an essential aspect of knowledge of technology and engineering. Digital technologies have advanced faster than any innovation in our history: they have reached around 50 percent of the developing world's population in just two decades and have transformed societies. By improving connectivity, financial inclusion and access to trade and public services, technology can be a major factor in equality.
Technology improves every aspect of human life, making it easier and more diverse. While technological advances are generally seen as positive change, some people perceive them in a negative light. The effects of technology on society have been both positive and negative. While technology has made it easier to connect with other people, access information and improve health care, it has also led to job loss, cyberbullying and addiction to technology.
As we move forward, it will be critical to consider the potential impacts of new technological advances and to work to mitigate any negative effects. Ultimately, it's up to all of us to ensure that technology is used in a way that benefits society as a whole. Today, digital technologies, such as data collection and artificial intelligence, are used to track and diagnose problems in agriculture, health and the environment, or to perform daily tasks, such as managing traffic or paying a bill. While renewed attention is currently being paid to climate change, these efforts to find a solution through technology are not new.
Another way that technology has impacted society is through communication, the way we talk and communicate with each other around the world. Many of society's thorniest technological problems relate to effects that transcend borders, such as acid rain, and many of them have global implications, such as the attribution and ownership of ideas and products and the effects of fossil fuel use on the climate. The long-term decline in global poverty was mainly due to the increase in productivity caused by technological change. Technology has made it possible for medical professionals to access patient records and communicate with other healthcare providers, improving the quality of patient care.
In addition, technology has made it possible for people to access education and training, no matter where they live. A key part of technological progress is making these life-changing and often lifesaving innovations affordable for everyone. This area focuses on general principles that can be applied when thinking about ethical issues related to various technologies, although individual evaluation elements will inevitably tend to focus on a specific technology. Apple sold its first iPod in 2001 and, six years later, introduced the iPhone, which ushered in a new era of personal technology.
Over the past few centuries, society witnessed technological advances that made everyday life easier, more comfortable and, well, more interesting. These technologies directly remove CO2 from the air, allowing scientists to alleviate some of the damage caused by fossil fuels that have already been burned.