What is technology?
By: Paul Oliver
Tags: Facebook, Database, Business Tech, Business Intelligence, Developer

Some standard definitions found –

- tech·nol·o·gy

1. The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, esp. in industry: “computertechnology”; “recycling technologies”.

Wikipedia — Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function

Look squirrel note — Somewhat cool look at future laptop technology

Technology is derived from the Greek words, techne and logos .

Techne meaning art or craft

Logos signifies discourse or organized words

The practice of technology is frequently that of an art or craft, as distinguished from science, which is precise and is based upon established theoretical considerations and formal processes.

Let us all state that again the word technology means to craft a manner to organize words.

Replace craft with create and words with data.

So, while there are a google of definitions on Google, for me — technology is creating a manner to organize data to provide knowledge.

Examples are –

Your mobile device connects you via text, voice and/or video DATA

Your business application systems (ERP, CRM, BI, etc…) combines text and other file data (soon it should have voice and video) and should be organizing that data to answer questions providing knowledge on business decisions

Your Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin and now Google+ accounts collects or receives input DATA from and about you and your connections, then provides you and your connections that knowledge of your (and mine surely) mundane activities, likes/dislikes, and so on.

All the latest web/mobile based apps are about DATA, with the push for geographic information systems to check-in, show coupons and so on to give you knowledge of what is in your surroundings.

Thus, I contend that technology is now is creating a manner to organize data to provide knowledge.

Now, for you business people let me make a point beyond just my pontificating about my thoughts on the definition of technology.

You NEED a data focused person. Call them a database developer/analyst/programmer/engineer, BUT NOT DATABASE ADMINISTRATOR.

The DBA provides operational service and support for the server, but the developer role is focused on the data and how best to move that data around to provide the knowledge to the business.

Whether that be in a business intelligence tool

Or integrating with your customers or suppliers systems

Or most importantly measuring the quality of that data.

Yes, I said it — you need to care and focus your attention with a full-time role to track, measure and report to the executive level the QUALITY of your data.

Data — meaning the knowledge you make ALL your business decisions on, after your gut of course.

Why would you not be able to justify in your mind and budget that role?

Now a tip on hiring this role, creating requires a type of personality and mindset that is open to non-linear thought processes and limited in how much they judge things or people.

A linear thinking person who is strong in judgment or thing and people should go into accounting, engineering or politics.

The low judgment factor has them very accepting that there are different approaches to solving a single problem.

So improve your knowledge by using technology by hiring a crafty creative database developer.