THE CYCLE OF TECHNOLOGY

Since time memorial, humans have been improvising their surroundings for various objectives. Initially, the objectives were of basic nature as food, shelter and clothing. An array of tools and skills to use them were developed enabling mankind to survive. The user, the tools and the skills to use them collectively came to be known as the technology which kept on evolving constantly. Technological advancements transformed humans from a nomad to a social animal and enabled them to satiate the basic requirements of the entire society. However, the cycle of technology has just begun.

Human attention migrated from basic necessities towards magnificence and opulence. Humble shelters gave way to great palaces and bullock carts were first replaced by steam engines and later by cars running on fossil fuels burnt inside internal combustion engines. As technology found its way into the daily lives, its exponential advancement led the humans back and forth with “14,500 wars taken place between 3500 BC and the late 20th century, costing 3.5 billion lives, leaving only 300 years of peace” (Conway W. Henderson – Understanding International Law).

After centuries of war and technological advancements, on introspection it was found that 12% of the global population, which translates to 842 million in absolute numbers, is still undernourished. Humans failed miserably to satiate the basic and primitive objectives of providing food, shelter and clothing as even today while we read this write up, 8000 children around the world, aged less than 5 years, will sleep to be never awake, due to malnutrition and hunger (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2013). The cycle of technology is yet incomplete.

Amit Singh Baghel
Transport Planner
AM/UT Div.
RITES Limited