<P> The third, and final stage of technological evolution is the automation . The automation is a machine that removes the element of human control with an automatic algorithm . Examples of machines that exhibit this characteristic are digital watches, automatic telephone switches, pacemakers, and computer programs . </P> <P> It's crucial to understand that the three stages outline the introduction of the fundamental types of technology, and so all three continue to be widely used today . A spear, a plow, a pen, a knife, a glove, a chicken and an optical microscope are all examples of tools . </P> <P> The process of technological evolution culminates with the ability to achieve all the material values technologically possible and desirable by mental effort . </P> <P> An economic implication of the above idea is that intellectual labour will become increasingly more important relative to physical labour . Contracts and agreements around information will become increasingly more common at the marketplace . Expansion and creation of new kinds of institutes that works with information such as universities, book stores, patent - trading companies, etc. is considered an indication that a civilization is in technological evolution . </P>

How did technological and social developments help humans progress as a species