ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces some of the individuals key to the discovery of these concepts and tools, the development of energy from machines, standardization of and interchangeable parts, the assembly line, and so forth, led to our modern technological society and thus to mass production and mass consumption. The foundations of technological society are the following historical developments: specialization of labor; energy from machines; standardization and interchangeable parts; use of machines; mass production and mass consumption; the assembly line; computers and computer networks. International trade has become an integral part of modern culture. Trade and distribution jobs began moving out of the city center in the 1950s. The concept that the "one best way" to do a job is determined by experts (engineers) and the worker's duty is just to follow instructions is called Taylorism. It resulted in dramatic improvements in productivity and the standard of living in many cultures for approximately 100 years.
