Principles of and Approaches to Technology Classification

This article considers various approaches to classifying technologies, including hierarchical and multiaspect systems. The advantages and disadvantages of hierarchical classifiers are analyzed, and their complexity and difficulties with adaptation to new and interdisciplinary technologies are emphasized. Multi-aspect classifications that take into account such features as the scope of application, resource provision, the state of automation, scientific potential, purpose, and level of development of technologies are discussed. Particular attention is paid to classifications based on the scale of technological areas (meso-, micro-, nano-, pico-, and femtotechnologies) and the types of objects with which they interact (physical, information, cognitive, and biomedical technologies). The concept of convergent technologies is presented, as well as various abbreviations denoting their cores (NBIC, GRAIN, BRIC, CIMT, and others). A new cross-classification of technologies is proposed based on the RGB color model, where each color symbolizes a certain characteristic of the technology: environmental friendliness (green), intelligence (blue), and riskiness (red).