Basic Relations Between Technology and Medicine
Technology is the combination of any new techniques, tools, techniques, or procedures applied in the production of products or services or in the achievement of specific goals, for instance scientific research. Technologists are involved in discovering new technological methods, products, or processes and in their application. They can be found in various fields such as electronics, computer sciences, information systems, and physical sciences. Technologists can be categorized into three main groups: those who have an engineering degree specializing in a specific technological field; those with a technical degree only studying the specific technology; and technologists who combine academic training and practical experience in a specific job position. Some of the areas in which technology is widely applied include computer software, telecommunications, industrial and manufacturing, medical and health, communications, and computer systems. Technologists can also find employment in government agencies, education, finance, and marketing.
Knowledge in a particular scientific, technological, or application area can be broad or detailed. Broad knowledge is general knowledge that is learned through a long period of specialization in that particular discipline. It can be learned through general reading, study, and experience. For example, if a person wants to learn more about the solar energy, he would need to learn all he could about solar energy, its characteristics, how it works, how to install it, what equipment is required, how to build panels and solar cells, what parts are used, and how to maintain them. Such a person could then apply his learned knowledge in a practical way to solve a practical problem.
On the other hand, specialized knowledge is very detailed and is usually related to the application of the knowledge learned. It is specific and often designed for specific purposes. A computer scientist might learn how to design computer software to implement a scientific experiment, for example. A medical practitioner might learn how to measure certain diseases using a certain procedure, or how to use certain diagnostic devices to diagnose certain diseases. These practitioners will then use their specific knowledge in a practical way, such as diagnosing and treating patients who are unable to communicate or perform ordinary tasks.
Different disciplines have different purposes and thus require various kinds of specialized knowledge. In order to learn how to use scientific knowledge for practical problems, one has to choose a specific practical problem that requires scientific knowledge. Then, he has to learn about that practical problem in detail so that he can solve it correctly. This kind of specialized knowledge is called practical knowledge.
A very important part of practical knowledge is applied knowledge. Applied knowledge refers to a specific practical application of a specific concept. For instance, all mechanical engineering knowledge refers to specific mechanisms; all electrical engineering knowledge refers to electrical principles; all aerospace knowledge refers to specific aerospace principles; etc. Applied knowledge is also an important part of scientific knowledge because it can provide the answer to a specific question.
The combination of both theoretical and applied knowledge forms the basis of how people learn. All people learn through both theoretical and practical application. Therefore, if one cannot learn how to apply scientific knowledge to practical application, he will never be able to solve problems properly.