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Democratization of technology refers to the process by which access to technology rapidly continues to become more accessible to more people. New technologies and improved user experiences have empowered those outside of the technical industry to access and use technological products and services. At an increasing scale, consumers have greater access to use and purchase technologically sophisticated products, as well as to participate meaningfully in the development of these products. Industry innovation and user demand have been associated with more affordable, user-friendly products. This is an ongoing process, beginning with the development of mass production and increasing dramatically as digitization became commonplace. Thomas Friedman argued that the era of globalization has been characterized by the democratization of technology, democratization of finance, and democratization of information.〔Friedman, T.L. (1999). The Lexus and the Olive Tree: Understanding Globalization. New York: Random House.〕 Technology has been critical in the latter two processes, facilitating the rapid expansion of access to specialized knowledge and tools, as well as changing the way that people view and demand such access. ==History== Scholars and social critics often cite the invention of the printing press as a major invention that changed the course of history. The force of the printing press rested not in its impact on the printing industry or inventors, but on its ability to transmit information to a broader public by way of mass production. This event is so widely recognized because of its social impact – as a democratizing force.〔Dittmar, J. (11 Feb. 2011). “Information technology and economic change: The impact of the printing press.” VOX. < http://www.voxeu.org/article/information-technology-and-economic-change-impact-printing-press>.〕 The printing press is often seen as the historical counterpart to the Internet.〔Holbert, G.L. (2002). “Technology, Libraries and the Internet: A Comparison of the Impact of the Printing Press and World Wide Web.” Electronic Journal of Academic and Special Leadership, 3(1).〕〔"The Information Age and the Printing Press: Looking Backward to See Ahead." Rand Corporation. After the development of the Internet in 1969, its use remained limited to communications between scientists and within government, although use of email and boards gained popularity among those with access. It did not become a popular means of communication until the 1990s. In 1993 the US federal government opened the Internet to commerce and the creation of HTML formed the basis for universal accessibility.〔Ferdinand, P. (2000). The Internet, democracy and democratization. Democratization, 7(1): 1-17〕 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Democratization of technology」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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