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Technological evolution
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==History of technological evolution== '''Technological evolution''' is a theory of radical transformation of society through technological development. This theory originated with [[Czechs|Czech]] philosopher [[Radovan Richta]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Böhme|first1=Gernot|last2=Stehr|first2=Nico|title=The Knowledge Society: The Growing Impact of Scientific Knowledge on Social Relations|date=2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=9789400947245|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3mdDBAAAQBAJ&q=radovan%20richta%20describes%20the%20radical%20transformation%20of%20society%20through%20technological%20development&pg=PA5|access-date=27 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> ''Mankind In Transition; A View of the Distant Past, the Present and the Far Future'', Masefield Books, 1993.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Bloomfield|first1=Masse|title=The Automated Society; A View of the Distant Past, the Present and the Far Future|date=1993|publisher=Masefield Books|isbn=1879981025|url=http://massebloomfield.com/books/the-automated-society/|access-date=29 March 2017|language=en}}</ref> [[Technology]] (which Richta defines as "a material entity created by the application of mental and physical effort to nature in order to achieve some value") evolves in three stages: tools, machine, [[automation]]. This evolution, he says, follows two trends: The pre-technological period, in which other animal species remain today (aside from some avian and primate species) was a non-rational period of the early [[Prehistory|prehistoric man]]. The emergence of technology, made possible by the development of the rational faculty, paved the way for the first stage: the tool. A tool provides a mechanical advantage in accomplishing a physical task, such as an arrow, plow, or hammer that augments physical labor to more efficiently achieve his objective. Later animal-powered tools such as the plow and the horse, increased the productivity of food production about tenfold over the technology of the hunter-gatherers. Tools allow one to do things impossible to accomplish with one's body alone, such as seeing minute visual detail with a [[microscope]], manipulating heavy objects with a [[pulley]] and cart, or carrying volumes of water in a bucket. The second technological stage was the creation of the [[machine]]. A machine (a powered machine to be more precise) is a tool that substitutes part of or all of the element of human physical effort, requiring only the control of its functions. Machines became widespread with the industrial revolution, though [[windmills]], a type of machine, are much older. Examples of this include cars, trains, [[computers]], and lights. Machines allow humans to tremendously exceed the limitations of their bodies. Putting a machine on the farm, a tractor, increased food productivity at least tenfold over the technology of the plow and the horse. The third, and final stage of technological evolution is the [[automation]]. The automation is a machine that removes the element of human control with an automatic algorithm. Examples of machines that exhibit this characteristic are [[digital watches]], automatic telephone switches, [[pacemakers]], and computer programs. Each of these three stages outline the introduction and development of the fundamental types of technology, and all three continue to be widely used today. A spear, a plow, a pen, a knife, a glove, and an optical microscope are all examples of tools.
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