Technology is the creative application of knowledge to organized tasks involving people and machines that meet sustainable goals. It is a key component of human culture and it influences all other aspects, such as language, rituals, values, commerce and the arts.

It is also a vital tool for businesses and helps to make them more efficient and profitable. For example, e-commerce websites allow customers to buy products online, while business software programs help companies manage customer sales and employee processes. Furthermore, the remote work trend is made possible by technology, which enables workers to work from home and reduce their travel expenses.

The emergence of new technologies often occurs when scientists and engineers identify opportunities for improvement or solutions. In many cases, these innovations are a response to real or perceived problems in the workplace or society, such as inefficient processes, wasteful energy use, or unsatisfactory ergonomics. Other technological advances come from improvements in scientific understanding, such as the invention of computers, which allowed for much faster and more precise calculations.

In addition to the technical and economic challenges of a particular project, there are usually numerous other constraints that must be considered when designing new technologies. These include identifying necessary skills and resources, determining the extent to which any new technology is likely to disrupt the natural environment, and considering social and ethical implications (e.g., disadvantages to some groups and risk to future generations). Ultimately, the best technological designs strike reasonable compromises among these different concerns.