Nature of technology

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Technology results from invention and the ability of people to innovate and find new and better ways of carrying out a task. It increases the ability of people to satisfy their needs.

Solving problems

Ours is a technocentric world. There is a general optimism that technology can solve problems and improve lives

Many people believe that for every problem there us technological fix - an innovation waiting to be discovered that will solve it. A solution or 'cure' to problems such as global warming, HIV/AIDS or oil shortages is sought through science and engineering. But problems can also be solved by an attitudinal fix, which involves changing human behaviour.

These two types of fix are not mutually exclusive.