The original concept of technology is proficiency. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect, and skill is technology. Technology is far older than science. In fact, the history of technology is as long as that of mankind.

Broadly speaking, technology is the sum total of means, methods and skills created and developed by human beings to meet social needs. As social productive forces, the overall technical force of society includes technical skills, labor experience, information knowledge and physical tools and equipment, that is, technical talents, technical equipment and technical materials of the whole society.

The encyclopedia edited by French scientist Diderot gives a concise definition of technology: "Technology is a system of tools and rules that cooperate for a certain purpose." This technical definition basically points out the main characteristics of modern technology, namely, purpose, sociality and pluralism.

Any technology has a purpose from its birth. The purpose of technology runs through the whole process of technical activities. The realization of technology needs social cooperation, social support and various social conditions. These social factors directly affect the success or failure of technology and its development process. The so-called diversity means that technology can be manifested as tangible tools, equipment, physical materials and other hardware; It can also be expressed as intangible knowledge software such as processes, methods and rules, as well as information materials and design drawings. They are not matter but have material carriers. In modern technology as a material means and information means, skills have gradually lost their original position and role, but only an element of technology.

According to different functions, technology can be divided into productive technology and unproductive technology. Production technology is the most basic part of technology; Unproductive technologies, such as scientific experimental technology, public technology, military technology, cultural and educational technology, medical technology, etc. , is a technology to meet various needs of social life.

Generally speaking, the invention of technology is the materialization of scientific knowledge and empirical knowledge, which makes applicable theories and knowledge come true. The development of modern technology can not be separated from the guidance of scientific theory, and it has largely become a "scientific application". However, the development of modern science can not be separated from technology, and the need of technology often becomes the purpose of scientific research, and the development of technology provides the necessary technical means for scientific research. They are interrelated, promote and restrict each other. It can be predicted that their relationship will be closer and the boundaries will become blurred.

However, science and technology are two different social cultures after all, and the difference between them is also very obvious. The basic task of science is to know the world and make discoveries, thus increasing the wealth of human knowledge; The basic task of technology is to discover the world and make inventions to create human material wealth and enrich the spiritual and cultural life of human society. Science should answer the questions of "what" and "why"; Technology answers the questions of "what to do" and "how to do it". Therefore, scientific and technological achievements are different in form. Scientific achievements are generally manifested in concepts, laws, papers and other forms; Technical achievements generally appear in the form of process flow, design drawings and operation methods. Scientific products are generally not commercialized, but technological achievements can be commercialized. Modern technology has a strong utilitarian and commercial color.