My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about
technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about
technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current
common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't
use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the
word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new
kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in
your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify
as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user,
not a person involved with that technology.
On 21/12/2025 02:21, Peter Moylan wrote:
My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about
technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about
technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current
common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly
narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't
use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the
word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new
kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in
your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify
as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving
them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user,
not a person involved with that technology.
"Technology" also seems lately to be a word loved by advertising copy writers, used to mean very little but sound impressive. A few examples
at random from recent TV adverts:
A mattress that has "SmartCool Technology"
A dishwasher that has "CornerIntense Technology"
A toothpaste that has "Next Generation Ionic Technology"
On 21/12/2025 02:21, Peter Moylan wrote:
My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current
common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't
use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify
as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user,
not a person involved with that technology.
"Technology" also seems lately to be a word loved by advertising copy writers, used to mean very little but sound impressive. A few examples
at random from recent TV adverts:
A mattress that has "SmartCool Technology"
A dishwasher that has "CornerIntense Technology"
A toothpaste that has "Next Generation Ionic Technology"
Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> posted:
On 21/12/2025 02:21, Peter Moylan wrote:
My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current
common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user, not a person involved with that technology.
"Technology" also seems lately to be a word loved by advertising copy writers, used to mean very little but sound impressive. A few examples
at random from recent TV adverts:
A mattress that has "SmartCool Technology"
A dishwasher that has "CornerIntense Technology"
A toothpaste that has "Next Generation Ionic Technology"
Back in the days (40 or so years ago) when I regularly watched the BBC
we were often treated to contributions from "our science correspondent". He virtually never said anything about science, but just waffled on about technology.
<athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
Phil <phil@anonymous.invalid> posted:
On 21/12/2025 02:21, Peter Moylan wrote:
My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving
them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user, not a person involved with that technology.
"Technology" also seems lately to be a word loved by advertising copy writers, used to mean very little but sound impressive. A few examples
at random from recent TV adverts:
A mattress that has "SmartCool Technology"
A dishwasher that has "CornerIntense Technology"
A toothpaste that has "Next Generation Ionic Technology"
Back in the days (40 or so years ago) when I regularly watched the BBC
we were often treated to contributions from "our science correspondent". He virtually never said anything about science, but just waffled on about technology.
Heard another one like that.
And what he knew about technology came directly from press releases
of big companies, telling how great they were,
J. J. Lodder <nospam@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote:[-]
<athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
Back in the days (40 or so years ago) when I regularly watched the BBC
we were often treated to contributions from "our science
correspondent". He virtually never said anything about science, but
just waffled on about technology.
Heard another one like that.
And what he knew about technology came directly from press releases
of big companies, telling how great they were,
They now have an "Environment Correspondent" with a degree in...
......... philosophy, poitics and economics.
Liz Tuddenham <liz@poppyrecords.invalid.invalid> wrote:
J. J. Lodder <nospam@de-ster.demon.nl> wrote:
[-]<athel.cb@gmail.com> wrote:
Back in the days (40 or so years ago) when I regularly watched the BBC we were often treated to contributions from "our science correspondent". He virtually never said anything about science, but just waffled on about technology.
Heard another one like that.
And what he knew about technology came directly from press releases
of big companies, telling how great they were,
They now have an "Environment Correspondent" with a degree in...
......... philosophy, poitics and economics.
Good, that may be much better than someone who learned a few lessons
and did some exams at a tech university.
Environmental problems are not technical issues, mostly.
But to the point: you must mean Justin Rowlatt. <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Rowlatt>
I have no idea what he is saying and how much sense it makes,
On 2026-01-03 20:33, Phil wrote:
On 21/12/2025 02:21, Peter Moylan wrote:
My current study of Irish is in a section called "Talking about
technology". It didn't take me long to notice that it's not about
technology at all. It is about using computers.
I don't blame Duolingo for this. They are simply following current
common usage. But it annoys me to see the meaning of a word so tightly
narrowed down. It's left us without a word for "technology that doesn't
use computers".
As an engineer, I'm also offended by another aspect of the abuse of the
word. Is e-mail a technology? If you are working on the design of a new
kind of mail server, then yes. But not if you're just reading what's in
your inbox. That's called "reading", not "doing technology".
Some people use "technology" to mean "talking on the phone". I don't.
What about cars? Yes, if you're an automotive engineer then you qualify
as a technologist. But not if your contact with cars consists of driving >>> them. That can be called a *use* of technology; but you're an end user,
not a person involved with that technology.
"Technology" also seems lately to be a word loved by advertising copy
writers, used to mean very little but sound impressive. A few examples
at random from recent TV adverts:
A mattress that has "SmartCool Technology"
A dishwasher that has "CornerIntense Technology"
A toothpaste that has "Next Generation Ionic Technology"
Similar to the use of 'tactical'.
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