[File:Dampfturbine Montage01.jpg|thumb|right|300px|A
steam turbine with the case opened. Most electricity is produced by
thermal power stations with turbines like this one. Electricity consumption and living standards are highly correlated.
Electrification was voted the most important engineering achievement of the 20th century.]]
Technology ("science of craft", from
Greek ,
techne, "art, skill, cunning of hand"; and , ) is the collection of techniques,
skills, methods and processes used in the production of
goods or
services or in the accomplishment of objectives, such as scientific investigation. Technology can be the
knowledge of techniques, processes, etc. or it can be embedded in machines, computers, devices and factories, which can be operated by individuals without detailed knowledge of the workings of such things.