In many cases, the term technology applies to a range of technological systems that are used in organizations. These systems are used to improve the organization’s productivity, efficiency, quality, or the marketability of its products or services. Technology is thus the collective sum of human knowledge, skills, techniques, and methods used in the achievement of particular objectives, including scientific research, medical practices, or the production of certain types of products. There are many definitions of technology, ranging from the definition provided by the Encyclopedia of Contemporary Technology (3rd ed., rev. ed.) which states that technology is an evolving body of knowledge and that it is the process of applying that knowledge to new situations in such a way that it produces useful results; to the extent that technology is a complex system capable of sustaining and improving human conditions and quality of life through its effect on science, engineering, business, and society. Another broad definition is that of technological change, which is a process by which new and advanced technologies are developed for the fulfillment of specific purposes in the context of human experience and society.
One important area of technological change is in the realm of knowledge translation. The field of translation means taking knowledge from one medium to another, from source language to target language, so that whatever is translated must be understood by the target language community. This process is a complex one, requiring expert knowledge and skill as well as an understanding of cultural differences. Examples of the kinds of things that are often translated include technical manuals, instruction sheets for products, instruction manuals for teachers, and scientific reports. Cultural factors can also exert considerable influence on technological change, sometimes causing texts or materials from one culture to have different meanings than those of other cultures. This cultural division can be illustrated with examples such as the French word for apple, le calculus, which is used to refer to the common apple computer, and le calculus, which means the more common mathematical calculator.
