Technology is the collective term for a number of human endeavors, practices, and systems, which are used in the development of goods or services, or in the achievement of specific goals, including scientific investigation. Technological change is a continual process, driven by cultural, societal, and technological factors, and it is influencing markets more rapidly than ever. It has changed how people think about the world, how it is organized, how it can be secured, and what they can do to get involved. The impact of technological change can be seen in nearly every sphere of human activity-commerce, marketing, science, medicine, engineering, and communications.
Technologists are continuously striving to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of human endeavor, to create products or services that will enhance the quality of life, to minimize the damage to humans and our environment, and to make these improvements for the benefit of all. To achieve these goals, technologists rely on a diversity of approaches, including scientific, social, economic, technological, and sociological theories and research. In the field of engineering, technologists have developed new techniques and applications, improved product or service designs, and created new digital technologies for use across different industries and settings.
Technologists assist product manufacturers with the design and creation of new technologies, conduct research in this area, and test and monitor new technologies. They provide information about the physical and logical properties of various materials and products, and interpret data gathered in this area. Technologists can work in product development, research, manufacturing, and marketing departments of companies. Some technologists specialize in particular areas, such as computer science, optical sciences, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, or software engineering. In many instances, technologists are required to assemble or install products, develop test methods, or evaluate the operation of electronic systems.
Computer science refers to the field of science that studies how computers and their related technologies work and what they can do. Computer professionals build and support the computer systems that run an organization, providing both personal and institutional computing needs. They analyze the needs of clients, create working product specifications, write software programs for these requirements, and determine the best way to implement them. In the area of information technology (IT), computer technicians help organizations to create and maintain networks, install and operate them, use computer networks, and maintain their security. Specific computer skills are required for this job role; however, one must combine knowledge of a variety of computer systems with the ability to work in a highly creative and strategic environment. In the area of industrial and strategic technology, technologists assist with information technology, industrial, and scientific research and development activities.
In these two areas, the work is diverse, requiring many hours of specialized work. There are a number of opportunities in these fields for qualified professionals. In Information Technology, professionals help with hardware, software, networking, security, maintenance, backup, and other aspects of the IT industry; they can work for individual companies or serve as managers of a company’s IT department.
In strategic technology, these professionals may focus on specific applications or technologies. They use applied science and mathematical modeling and computing to create new products and solutions to current problems. They also conduct market research, develop new technologies, and improve existing technologies. They work in a variety of capacities; however, they must have a broad knowledge of a variety of computer systems and software to perform their jobs. In industrial and scientific research and development, they develop new technologies, conduct scientific studies, and solve problems; they may be involved in human-computer interaction and design, machine learning, database, and hardware design and development.