The Meaning of Technology

I define technology as the study of machines or tools that when used make life easier or better in some way.

I have never really had to think about what the word actually means, so I broke it up and thought about what each part means.  I came up with 'ology' first.  Obviously that is the study of something.  Next I took 'tech', I did not know the meaning of tech, so I thought of other words that begin with tech. Technician came to mind, and a technician is a person that works on machines or with tools. Technique is a way to do something correctly or better.  So when I put it all together, that is how I came up with my definition. 

When I think of technology, I instantly think of the computer I am typing on, or the internet I am using to post this blog.  Those could both be debated on whether or not they make life easier or better.  But when I think bigger, outside of me, technology is the tractor helping the farmer produce more with less work to feed people.  Or the drone that kills a terrorist so that less of our men and women in the military have to be in harms way.  Technology is the CT scan that tells the doctor a child has cancer, and the chemotherapy that cures that child. 

Technology is not always good or does not always make life easier or better, so maybe my definition is not accurate.  For example computer viruses, I cannot see a way they make anyone's lives better but I don't fully understand them either. But overall, I think that is a pretty good summation of technology.