Final Answer:
Technology from the past shapes today and the future by laying the foundation for innovation, fostering advancements, and serving as a learning base for future developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Technological progress is evolutionary, with current innovations often rooted in past achievements. For instance, early computing devices like the ENIAC in the 1940s paved the way for today's sophisticated computers. Understanding the historical context of technological breakthroughs enables us to build upon them.
The advent of the internet, rooted in ARPANET from the 1960s, illustrates how past technologies set the stage for the interconnected world we live in today. Learning from past successes and failures informs future designs, ensuring a more robust technological landscape. By recognizing the impact of past technology, we gain insights into potential trajectories for the future.