The Scientific Texts That Guide Human Activity
The advances in technology will send humans to Mars in the near future. Internet of things, 5G, artificial intelligence, automated driving, and so on and on, and probably no one is able to list all the new technologies that are emerging. The complexity of the technological world is wonderful but just as bewildering, and difficult to grasp. Yet, the researchers, engineers, and technicians just need to focus on their own portion of the work. The complex robots are composed of smaller functional units that are manageable by the respective professionals. https://worldspaper.com/tech/lyte-gaming-pc/ They are guided by scientific texts and in the minds. Despite the complexity of technologies, they will finally be traced to the simple origin of scientific texts.
Wikipedia defines technology as “Technology is the sum of techniques, skills, methods, and processes used in the production of goods or services or the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation.” In the bing.com search, technology is defined as “the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry.” The definitions are broad, and seemingly include all useful ways for humans to achieve something. Indeed, technology is itself a broad term with many valid definitions. Both definitions are correct in that they describe facts. But they don’t explain the meaning of the terms such as “techniques”, “application” and “scientific knowledge”, which are vague terms and could involve all the things in the universe.
Since we defined science in terms of texts in the paper “a new definition of science – the textual foundation that represents the real world”, technology should also be defined in terms of texts due to its scientific nature. Science and technology are closely related and inseparable in the modern world.
1. Scientific texts – the core of technology
We consider texts as the core of science, which should also be at the core of technology due to the essentially same nature of science and technology. Now we are not repeating the textual nature of science/technology, interested readers can refer to our article “language – the core of science”.
Science is able to represent everything, including human behavior. Not only natural phenomena are represented and accumulated, but so are human activities. The procedures, methods, and details of making achievements are recorded in texts, which are then established as representations. With the textual representations, human activities are organized, classified, and built upon existing known technologies.
Characteristics of technology
Usually, technology is viewed from the angle of its effect on the societies, such as its relations with culture, its practical use, its relation with the economy, politics, etc. These are more of its manifestations than its essence. They are of non-textual nature or centered on non-texts. Attributing the characteristics of technology to the various aspects of societies not only complicates the issue, leading to endless interactions but also switching people’s intentions away from technology’s true nature.
Facing the complexity, and variations of ubiquitous and ever-changing technologies, we should think deeply about the characteristics common to all technologies, which texts possess. Represented by texts, technology gets its essential features common to all technologies.
Technical documentation
Methods, skills, materials, procedures, principles, and so forth, all need to be documented for understanding, learning, communication, and recording purposes. User manuals and technical specifications are usually the first stuff needed by customers and engineers, either during product shipment or during product development stages. Technical documents even describe a product more accurately than the product’s actual operations. Despite the complex operations, deviations in operating conditions, and by different individuals, abundant materials, and changing personnel, documents are relatively stable, simple, accurate, reliable, and explanatory.
Again, it should be emphasized that scientific texts take effect in mind. The technical documents should take effect in mind and don’t equate to the technological texts in mind.
2. Differences between science and technology
It is needed to find the differences between science and technology. Although they have the essential cores, their appearances and emphases are different to account for various aspects of the human world.
Science and technology have similar branches and knowledge. The main difference between science and technology is their goal and objective. Science’s purpose is to observe and explain, while technology aims at taking action and making changes. Their direction is opposite to each other. Science is more of observation, while technology emphasizes action. The same texts can be considered science or technology depending on the objective and usage. For example, the law of motion is itself a science, but it becomes technology when being utilized to make and operate machinery.
