To claim an important part in human history for technology is not controversial. My contention is more radical however – that technology steers the pace and direction of all cultural evolution, guiding the way to the appearance of the modern world. It has done it in dialogue with social forces, through deep movements in opinion and values, through politics and even new faiths. From the start, along with language, technology began patterning the human world. An evolving culture started that we have lived with ever since.

On my desk lies a small stone axe, a hundred thousand years old. Once it had a sharp cutting edge at one end, while the other gave a good hand grip. It cannot be used by left-handers – the finger indentations fit only the right. That was a design decision by its maker. Technology has two parts: technique and design. Techniques are methods by which things are made or done, means and materials to create new products, processes or services...