Evolution of technology
Many researchers and experts see the evolution of technology from distinct angles. As a consequence, their varied views have an impact on not the whole concept of technology. While most of the perspectives vary, there are cases and points that some have agreed. There are some arguments from some authors which are similar in not just in the components but also the features as well as occurrences of technology. In many of the theoretical discussions regarding the evolution of technology, human intervention presence is inevitable. Human intervention presence, in most cases, aims at satisfying individual needs. Innovation, in my opinion, is the rate-limiting level. However, when innovations happen, they tag along with casual comprehension of not only how the innovation works but also a casual understanding of the need to use the innovation and not the previous. However, the innovation disseminates as the casual comprehension circulates with the innovation. This paper not only examines but also compares the theories of evolution by Alvin Toffler, Leslie White, and Gerhard Lenski.
According to Gerhard Lenski, technology is a crucial part of the evolution of not just cultural but also social society among persons. Thus, he refers to the technology as knowledge on how to utilize the resources of a particular community or even culture in a way that not only satisfies the people’s needs but also meets their desires. In his definition, resources refer to material resources as well as human resources. To Lenski, technology advancements and innovation is dependent on the level of education. The higher the literacy levels of a community, the more advanced they are likely to be in terms of technology. Therefore, information and or knowledge are critical components of technology. Knowledge, for that matter, is needed to transform from one technological advancement to another. Gerhard Lenski also believes that a community’s survival is primarily a function of its level of technological innovation. As such, a society with higher technological advancements has a higher competitive advantage over those with lower te advancement.
On the other hand, Leslie White sees technology as part and parcel of not just a culture but also ideology and sociology. She further says that the relationship between the technology and the three, that is, culture, thinking, and sociology, regularly change, therefore, creating a general culture evolution. Leslie also believes that culture evolves, and the development is dependent mainly on captured per capita annually. In other terms, she explains that the more energy a society harnesses per capita annually, the more their culture evolves. And this evolution is reflected by higher efficiency, which is followed by better utilization of the energy produced, which subsequently raises results. Leslie’s perspective on technology is that it is an element that changes as a result of human quests to find solutions to their daily problems. These solutions, she says that aim at enhancing their survival and, thus, culture, social, ideological evolution with time.
For Alvin Toffler, technology is a revolutionary and economic change in a particular society. He further argues that this economic and revolutionary change creates a concept he refers to as ‘waves.’ In his further argument, he indicates that societies have gone through the two initial stages, that is, ‘waves.’ Alvin says that humans are in the process of getting into the third stage or ‘wave.’ This third stage, he believes, is the knowledge phase. Alvin also holds the point of view that the transition from the first wave to the second phase and now to the steps that humans have made was not just long but hard as well. He notes that it was characterized by significant and immense innovations in all the domains. The changes were also marked by deep mental as well as physical engagements. And it is these mental as well as physical innovations of the brains of humans that have contributed to a greater extent the present transition of the economy and the society.
It is evident from the above theories of Alvin Toffler, Leslie White, and Gerhard Lenski that technology is the primary fuel that leads to societal evolution. In all their arguments, they agree that the technological development of society is as a result of technology and vice versa. Another factor coming out is also the interdependence of technological advancement and societal evolution. In other words, the growth of the society also defines technological innovations, which is mainly dependent on societal problems. Furthermore, societal issues continue to evolve, thereby needing newer solutions. Moreover, these advancements, technical, and societal rely on the ever-growing populations as well as their growing needs. These need to create room for technological progress, which subsequently has an enormous implication on the kind of the respective society. Lastly, knowledge is an imperative element as it, to a large extent, defines the rate at which people stay ahead regarding technological advancement to enjoy better competitive advantage among their peers. This competition does not only happen at an individual level but also at the societal and country-level as well.