The term “high tech” is both an evaluation and a general description. It describes the grade of technological input into a product or system in relation to similar products or systems. It is also used to distinguish something from technology-free products or systems (low tech), or as a synonym to “modern” in certain cultural contexts.

High tech is always the result of a complex scientific process of research and development that aims to expand the current potential of materials and techniques. This process can be contingent on a defined requirement or an experiment. High tech products are often developed in the fields of air travel, space travel and in the military, and subsequently adapted and altered for general use. Today, there are a number of diverse fields that fall within the category of high tech design including nanotechnology, biotechnology, computer technology, and a large sector of (→) materials research.

The practices of design, engineering, and architecture often form the...