Speaking of science and religion....

Technology has, you could say, a vice grip on our society. With something having such an influence on our lives, I find it kind of hard to define. We can all agree that DVDs, TVs and such can be called technology. But say you're in the back yard and you make a wooden stool. Is the hammer and nails you're using technology? If so, does that make the stool technology, or merely the product of technology?

Or say you use a sharp rock to hoe your garden. Is the rock technology?

Sooo the question posed is: What is your definition of technology?

technology - techincal ideas, techniques.

compared to a rock, a hammer is technological.

FinbarReilly
All of that is considered technology. Technology is any tool used to do a task. The stool being tech depends: Are you using it for something (even sitting, in which case it's tech)? If not, then it's the product of tech...

FR

Interesting. So the even the rock is technology, since I'm using it. Does that make the earth technology too, since I'm using it for living, sitting, standing, etc.?

mykill: Can you elaborate? =/

Technology - the practical application of knowledge especially in a particular area

http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=technology&x=0&y=0

sounds like you don't even need to hoe around with the rock , the simple act of gardening ;(make a hole in the dirt with your finger, insert seed, cover) thats technology !

FR: So technology can describe an action, not just an object. Awesome.

One more question. How much modified does the rock have to be for it to be called tech? For example, can I take a chip off a rock and use it?

I'd think that you'd have to have a motive behind the modification (chipping it off specifically to make a hoe). If so, there's a little problem with that. When trying to classify the rock as tech, it's hard to determine motive. Also, what if I accidentally dropped the rock and it breaks into a wedge-like shape, good for hoeing. Does that mean if I use it as such, the rock is still not tech?

lothar: I don't know if that's the entire definition. We've established that actions can be technology. But can't objects be called technology also?

Also, if it's the practical application of knowledge, aren't ALL actions technology?

A fly goes by my head, I slap my hands together to kill it. I used the knowledge that the fly's frail body cannot withstand the pressure of my hands to kill the fly. Kicking a field goal, you use past knowledge about the force of your kick and foot placement to get the ball into the goal. Every action can be called a practical application of knowledge.

Technology is a cool sounding word , but i think it is often missused ,
in the case with the cave man tools you keep refering to i would call it just that a "tool" and tools are by no means uniqu to man, those monkeys thatuse grass to catch ants are using technology and tools , and so are the ants .
a dvd plare or ipod would be an "aparatus" maybe
and the act of building them or evn the stone hoe "engeneering"
hmmm wikipedia seems to have a different take on it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological#Different_meanings_of_technology [en.wikipedia.org]

Great, now I'm just more confused.