Science and technology has helped people to gain control
over nature. The first people had little control over nature. They had to
depend on nature for their living. They had only simple tools. They didn't know
how to raise animals or green plants. They had no permanent homes. They lived
in cave, trees, small and temporary homes.
Animal skins were their only
protection against the cold. The sun was their only source of light. With the
passage of time, people discovered how to make fire and learnt from raise
animals and crops. With the development of farming, they began to build
settlements. Then they discovered new methods to make their work easier, and to
increase their comforts. Through the ages technology has helped people to build
a more comfortable way of life.
Industrial
technology began with the invention of the stream engine. The work in the
factories became faster. The production increased. The working hours were were
reduced. The radio and television changed their entertainment habits.
Technology helps
people to live in greater comfort and security than in the past. Agriculture,
medicine and transport technologies have brought many benefits to human being.
Today machines do
most of the work. Powered machines have increased production and given people
more leisure. The needs of the people began to increase. The result is the
creation of a world of modern science and technology.
Medicine
The practice of Medicine is based on diagnosis and treatment.
A hundred years ago, the physician felt the pulse and came to various
conclusions about illness.
He had only a few instruments to diagnose a disease. Within
the last hundred years, medical technology developed. Now the physician has
sophisticated medical instruments to diagnose diseases.
X-ray machine that was invented in 1895, came into regular
use. X-ray machine was invented by Wilhelm Rontgen.With the help of X-ray
machine the doctors were able to see the inside of the body and diagnose
diseases. In 1973 the CAT scan machine was invented. With this invention
medical science was revolutionized. The patient is kept inside the machine and
the body is scanned by x-rays.
Medical technology continues to develop very rapidly. Today
the changes of the body can be observed and measured. These findings are the
key to diagnosing diseases and deciding treatment.The E.C.G machine
was invented during the last century. It is used to used to find out how the
heart works. The damage caused by the heart attack can be measured on this
machine.
Modern technology
is able to support failing organs. Ventilators are used to maintain oxygen
levels to assist breathing. Sir Alexander Fleming, whose discovery of
Penicillin led to the discovery of many other antibiotics. The antibiotics help
in treating a large range of bacterial infections.
Modern technology has helped immensely to develop surgery.
Now lasers are used in surgery. Kidney stones and gall bladder stones are
removed through laser surgery. Laser treatments are used for treating eye
diseases too.
Medical science and technology has developed so much that
surgeons transplant organs from one body to another. Kidney transplantation was
first attempted in 1902. Today it is a well established operation. Heart
transplantation was first performed in South Africa, in 1967. It was done by
the surgeon, Christian Barnard.
Transportation is
the way of moving people and goods from one place to another. Transportation takes
people to places they need to go and bring goods that people need.
As a result of
modern science and technology, there has been a massive development in transportation.
In the past transportation was very very slow. People traveled mainly on foot
and transported goods on their heads or dragged them along the ground. Later
they learnt to use pack animals like horses,donkeys, camels and oxen. Next they
used wagons drawn by animals and sailing vessels.
In 1890s, the German
engineer Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine. These invention bought about
a revolution in the ways of transport.
There are three
kinds of transportation; land, water and air. For land transportation we use
wheeled vehicles, specially cars,buses,trucks and trains. All these vehicles
are engine powered.
Water transport is a
very old means of transport. People transported logs on water. A large number
of logs which were tied together floated on water to reach their destinations. Ships
and boats used sails to move with wind power. But today almost all the ships
are engine powered. There are cargo ships and passenger ships.
In 1903, Orville
and Wilbur Wright designed a small aeroplane to run with a petrol engine. It
was the first aeroplane that lifted a person into the air.
Today, jet air
planes carry millions of travelers across the continents and oceans. Air transportation depends solely on engine
power. Super sonic jet planes which have so much of power travel faster than
sound. Aeroplanes provide the fastest mode of travel. Engine less vehicles such
as gliders and balloons are used mainly for recreation.
Billions of dollars
are spent on research to improve the transportation systems. The inventors who
want want to produce new types of vehicles with better security, comfort and
safety are kept busy.
Spinning was a
cottage industry in many lands. Kuveni was spinning when Prince Wijaya landed
in Sri Lanka. Weaving was a domestic industry in England too, till the
invention of the flying shuttle and the spinning Jenny. These inventions
simplified the use of the machine. It could now now be worked by power. It
brought a tremendous change on on human life, in terms of speed and volume.
The modern textile
technology has influenced the ready-made garment industry in Sri Lanka.
Factories have been set up in the cities and rural areas, providing employment
for both men and women. Mostly young rural women have taken up employment in
these factories. Ready-made garments are exported to United States of America, United
Kingdom, France and other European countries.
Fashion shows in modern trends are held in
leading cities all over the world to promote the garments produced in Sri
Lanka. The industry has become a leading foreign exchange earner for Sri Lanka.
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