Technology is an important part of life, and it shapes the way we interact with each other and the world around us. Though technology is a broad term, different people will have different meanings based on their point of view. It involves the creative application of knowledge, involving people and machines to achieve specific goals. For example, in the field of food and drink, flavour technologies are used to enhance the taste and smell of food. DNA and gene technologies are examples of nano-tech.
Technology affects the environment. While it may be used to solve a problem, it also affects the environment and other species. It takes resources to produce new technologies and dispose of waste. People who depend on a job are affected by these new technologies. In some cases, technology is unsustainable and may not be able to support its beneficiaries.
Technology also influences government policy. Governments must determine how to regulate the use of new technology. While most of its use depends on free-market forces and human reactions, there are instances when technology is misused and becomes a problem. For example, a business or individual might propose a new technology, and the government must consider the consequences of that technology.
As science continues to gain importance in the world, technologies become more complex. For example, solid-state physics involves the use of transistors and superconductors.