Outline of Technology
Outline of Technology
The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to technology: collection of tools,
including machinery, modifications, arrangements and procedures used by humans. Engineering is the
discipline that seeks to study and design new technology. Technologies significantly affect human as well
as other animal species' ability to control and adapt to their natural environments.
Components of technology
Knowledge – Awareness of facts or being competent
Engineering – Applied science and research
Process – Series of activities
Science – Systematic endeavor for gaining knowledge
Skill – Ability to carry out a task
Tool – Object can be used to achieve a goal
Weapon – Implement or device used to inflict damage, harm, or kill
Utensil – Tool used for food preparation
Equipment – Items required to exercise a certain activity
Invention – Novel device, material or technical process
Machinery – Powered mechanical device
Structure – Arrangement of interrelated elements in an object/system, or the object/system
itself
Building – Structure, typically with a roof and walls, standing more or less permanently in
one place
Road – Land route for travel by vehicles
Bridge – Structure built to span physical obstacles
Canal – Artificial channel for water
Dam – Barrier that stops or restricts the flow of surface or underground streams
Man-made systems – Interrelated entities that form a whole
Infrastructure – Facilities and systems serving society
Public utility – Organization which maintains the infrastructure for a public service
Branches of technology
Aerospace – flight or transport above the surface of the Earth.
Space exploration – the physical investigation of the space more than 100 km above the
Earth by either crewed or uncrewed spacecraft.
General aviation
Aeronautics
Astronautics
Aerospace engineering
Applied physics – physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.
It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and
engineering.
Agriculture – cultivation of plants, animals, and other living organisms.
Fishing – activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques
for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping.
Fisheries – a fishery is an entity engaged in raising or harvesting fish which is
determined by some authority to be a fishery. According to the FAO, a fishery is
typically defined in terms of the "people involved, species or type of fish, area of
water or seabed, method of fishing, class of boats, purpose of the activities or a
combination of the foregoing features".
Fishing industry – industry or activity concerned with taking, culturing, processing,
preserving, storing, transporting, marketing or selling fish or fish products. It is defined
by the FAO as including recreational, subsistence and commercial fishing, and the
harvesting, processing, and marketing sectors.
Forestry – art and science of tree resources, including plantations and natural stands.
The main goal of forestry is to create and implement systems that allow forests to
continue a sustainable provision of environmental supplies and services.
Organic gardening and farming
Sustainable agriculture
Communication
Books
Telecommunication – the transfer of information at a distance, including signaling,
telegraphy, telephony, telemetry, radio, television, and data communications.
Radio – Aural or encoded telecommunications.
Internet – the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the
standard Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP).
Technology of television
Television broadcasting – Visual and aural telecommunications.
Computing – any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computers.
Computing includes designing and building hardware and software systems; processing,
structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific research on and with
computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; creating and using
communications and entertainment media; and more.
Computer engineering – discipline that integrates several fields of electrical engineering
and computer science required to develop computer systems, from designing individual
microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design.
Computers – general purpose devices that can be programmed to carry out a finite
set of arithmetic or logical operations. Since a sequence of operations can be readily
changed, computers can solve more than one kind of problem.
Computer science – the study of the theoretical foundations of information and
computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in
computer systems.
Artificial intelligence – intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science
that aims to create it.
Natural language processing
Object recognition – in computer vision, this is the task of finding a given object in
an image or video sequence.
Cryptography – the technology to secure communications in the presence of third
parties.
Human-computer interaction
Information technology – the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal,
pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of
computing and telecommunications.
Software engineering – the systematic approach to the development, operation,
maintenance, and retirement of computer software.
Programming – the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging, and
maintaining the source code of computer programs.
Software development – development of a software product, which entails computer
programming (process of writing and maintaining the source code), but also
encompasses a planned and structured process from the conception of the desired
software to its final manifestation.
Web design and web development
Software – one or more computer programs and data held in the storage of the computer
for one or more purposes. In other words, software is a set of programs, procedures,
algorithms and its documentation concerned with the operation of a data processing
system.
Free software – software that can be used, studied, and modified without restriction.
Search engines – information retrieval systems designed to help find information
stored on a computer system.
Internet – the global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard
Internet Protocol Suite (TCP/IP).
World Wide Web
Computer industry
Apple Inc. – manufacturer and retailer of computers, hand-held computing devices,
and related products and services.
Google – Google Inc. and its Internet services including Google Search.
Construction – building or assembly of any physical structure.
Design – the art and science of creating the abstract form and function for an object or
environment.
Architecture – the art and science of designing buildings.
Electronics – Electronics comprises the physics, engineering, technology and applications
that deal with the emission, flow and control of electrons in vacuum and matter.
Energy – In physics, energy is the quantitative property that must be transferred to an object
in order to perform work on, or to heat, the object.
Energy development – ongoing effort to provide abundant, efficient, and accessible
energy resources through knowledge, skills, and construction.
Energy storage – the storage of a form of energy that can then be used later.
Nuclear technology – the technology and application of the spontaneous and induced
reactions of atomic nuclei.
Wind energy – wind energy is the use of wind to provide the mechanical power through
wind turbines to turn electric generators and traditionally to do other work, like milling or
pumping.
Solar energy – Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed
using a range of ever-evolving technologies such as solar heating, photovoltaics, solar
thermal energy, solar architecture, molten salt power plants and artificial photosynthesis.
Engineering – the application of science, mathematics, and technology to produce useful
goods and systems.
Chemical engineering – the technology and application of chemical processes to
produce useful materials.
Computer engineering – Computer engineering (CE) is a branch of engineering that
integrates several fields of computer science and electronic engineering required to
develop computer hardware and software.
Control engineering – Control engineering or control systems engineering is an
engineering discipline that applies automatic control theory to design systems with
desired behaviors in control environments.
Electrical engineering – the technology and application of electromagnetism, including
electricity, electronics, telecommunications, computers, electric power, magnetics, and
optics.
Climate engineering – the large-scale manipulation of a specific process central to
controlling Earth’s climate for the purpose of obtaining a specific benefit.
Software engineering – the technology and application of a systematic approach to the
development, operation, maintenance, and retirement of computer software.
Firefighting – act of extinguishing fires. A firefighter fights fires to prevent destruction of life,
property and the environment. Firefighting is a professional technical skill.
Forensic science – application of a broad spectrum of sciences to answer questions of
interest to a legal system. This may be in relation to a crime or a civil action.
Health
Biotechnology – applied biology that involves the use of living organisms and
bioprocesses in engineering, technology, medicine and other fields requiring
bioproducts.
Ergonomics – the study of designing equipment and devices that fit the human body, its
movements, and its cognitive abilities.
Hydrology – The study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and
other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed
sustainability.
Industry – production of an economic good or service.
Automation – use of machinery to replace human labor.
Industrial machinery
Machines – devices that perform or assist in performing useful work.
Manufacturing – use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The
term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most
commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into
finished goods on a large scale.
Robotics – deals with the design, construction, operation, structural disposition,
manufacture and application of robots.
Object recognition
Information science
Cartography – the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics,
and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways
that communicate spatial information effectively.
Library science – technology related to libraries and the information fields.
Military science – the study of the technique, psychology, practice and other phenomena
which constitute war and armed conflict.
Mining – extraction of mineral resources from the earth.
Nanotechnology – The study of manipulating matter on an atomic and molecular scale.
Generally, nanotechnology deals with structures sized between 1 and 100 nanometre in at
least one dimension, and involves developing materials or devices possessing at least one
dimension within that size.
Prehistoric technology – technologies that emerged before recorded history (i.e., before
the development of writing).
Quantum technology
Sustainability – capacity to endure. In ecology, the word describes how biological systems
remain diverse and productive over time. Long-lived and healthy wetlands and forests are
examples of sustainable biological systems. For humans, sustainability is the potential for
long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social
dimensions.
Transport – the transfer of people or things from one place to another.
Rail transport – means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled
vehicles running on rail tracks consisting of steel rails installed on sleepers/ties and
ballast.
Vehicles – mechanical devices for transporting people or things.
Automobiles – human-guided powered land-vehicles.
Bicycles – human-powered land-vehicles with two or more wheels.
Motorcycles – single-track, engine-powered, motor vehicles. They are also called
motorbikes, bikes, or cycles.
Vehicle components
Tires – ring-shaped coverings that fit around wheel rims
Technology by region
Science and technology in Africa
Science and technology in Algeria
Science and technology in Angola
Science and technology in Morocco
Science and technology in South Africa
Science and technology in Asia
Science and technology in Bangladesh
Science and technology in China
Science and technology in India
Science and technology in Indonesia
Science and technology in Iran
Science and technology in Israel
Science and technology in Japan
Science and technology in Malaysia
Science and technology in Pakistan
Science and technology in the Philippines
Science and technology in Russia
Science and technology in Turkey
Science and technology in Europe
Science and technology in Albania
Science and technology in Belgium
Science and technology in Brussels
Science and technology in Flanders
Science and technology in Wallonia
Science and technology in Bulgaria
Science and technology in France
Science and technology in Germany
Science and technology in Hungary
Science and technology in Iceland
Science and technology in Italy
Science and technology in Portugal
Science and technology in Romania
Science and technology in Russia
Science and technology in Spain
Science and technology in Switzerland
Science and technology in Ukraine
Science and technology in the United Kingdom
Science and technology in North America
Science and technology in Canada
Science and technology in the United States
Science and technology in Jamaica
Science and technology in South America
Science and technology in Argentina
Science and technology in Colombia
Science and technology in Venezuela
History of technology
History of technology
Timelines of technology
Man vs. Technology
Technology museum
Technological ages
Stone Age – Prehistoric period during which stone was widely used by humans to make
tools and weapons
Bronze Age – Historical period (c. 3300–1200 BC)
Iron Age – Archaeological period
The Renaissance – European cultural period of the 14th to 17th centuries
Industrial Age – Period of human history from the mid 18th to late 20th centuries
Information Age – Industrial shift to information technology
Hypothetical technology
Potential technology of the future includes:
Hypothetical technology
Philosophy of technology
Philosophy of technology – Studies of the nature of technology
Management of technology
Human enhancement – Natural, artificial, or technological alteration of the human body
Science – Systematic endeavor for gaining knowledge
Technology – Use of knowledge for practical goals
Strategy of Technology
Technology management – set of management disciplines that allows organizations to
manage their technological fundamentals to create competitive advantage
Technology integration – Use of technology tools in general content areas in education
Technology intelligence
Technology life cycle – Development, ascent, maturity, and decline of new technologies
Technology roadmap – Planning technique
Advancement of technology
DARPA – Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense responsible for the development of
new technologies
Emerging technologies – Technologies whose development, practical applications, or both
are still largely unrealized
List of emerging technologies
Horizon scanning – Methodology in futures studies
Hypothetical technology – Technology that does not exist yet
Innovation – Practical implementation of improvements
Invention – Novel device, material or technical process
Inventor – Novel device, material or technical process
Research and development – General term for activities in connection with corporate or
governmental innovation
Technological superpowers – State with extensive power or influence over much of the
world
Technological transitions – Describes how technological innovations occur and are
incorporated into society
Politics of technology
Politics and technology
AI takeover
Accelerating change
Format war
Information privacy
IT law
PEST analysis
Robot rights
Technological singularity
Technological sovereignty
Economics of technology
Energy accounting
Nanosocialism
Post-scarcity economy
Technocracy
Technocapitalism
Technological diffusion
Technology acceptance model
Technology lifecycle
Technology transfer
Technology education
Technology education
Technology museums
Technoseum – Technology museum in Mannheim, Germany
Technology organizations
Technology media
For historical treatments, see Media about the history of technology, above
Technology journalism
Books on technology
Engines of Creation
Technology periodicals
Engadget
TechCrunch
Wired
Websites
The Verge
Fictional technology
Fictional technology
In Death technology
Technology in Star Trek
Technology in Star Wars
Technology of Robotech
List of technology in the Dune universe
See also
Technology portal
Further reading
Ambrose, Stanley H. (2 March 2001). "Paleolithic Technology and Human Evolution" (https://
web.archive.org/web/20070614011947/http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/~junwang4/langev/localco
py/pdf/ambrose01science.pdf) (PDF). Science. 291 (5509): 1748–53.
Bibcode:2001Sci...291.1748A (https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001Sci...291.1748A).
doi:10.1126/science.1059487 (https://doi.org/10.1126%2Fscience.1059487).
PMID 11249821 (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11249821). S2CID 6170692 (https://api.se
manticscholar.org/CorpusID:6170692). Archived from the original (http://www3.isrl.uiuc.edu/
~junwang4/langev/localcopy/pdf/ambrose01science.pdf) (PDF) on 14 June 2007. Retrieved
10 March 2007.
Huesemann, M.H., and J.A. Huesemann (2011). Technofix: Why Technology Won’t Save Us
or the Environment (http://www.newtechnologyandsociety.org), New Society Publishers,
ISBN 0865717044.
Kremer, Michael (1993). "Population Growth and Technological Change: One Million B.C. to
1990". Quarterly Journal of Economics. 108 (3): 681–716. doi:10.2307/2118405 (https://doi.o
rg/10.2307%2F2118405). JSTOR 2118405 (https://www.jstor.org/stable/2118405)..
Kevin Kelly. What Technology Wants. New York, Viking Press, 14 October 2010, hardcover,
416 pages. ISBN 978-0670022151
Mumford, Lewis. (2010). Technics and Civilization. University of Chicago Press,
ISBN 0226550273.
Rhodes, Richard. (2000). Visions of Technology: A Century of Vital Debate about Machines,
Systems, and the Human World. Simon & Schuster, ISBN 0684863111.
Teich, A.H. (2008). Technology and the Future. Wadsworth Publishing, 11th edition,
ISBN 0495570524.
Wright, R.T. (2008). Technology. Goodheart-Wilcox Company, 5th edition,
ISBN 1590707184.
References
External links
Technology news
BBC on technology (https://www.bbc.com/news/technology)
Bloomberg on technology (https://www.bloomberg.com/technology)
MIT Technology Review (https://www.technologyreview.com/)
New York Times technology section (https://www.nytimes.com/section/technology)
Wired (https://www.wired.com/)
Miscellaneous topics
Note: these topics need to be placed in the outline above. Some may be irrelevant and
those should be removed. New sections may be needed in the outline to provide a
suitable place for some of these items. Annotations by way of short descriptions may help
decide where a link should go.