Mediation is a process of alternative dispute resolution in which a neutral third party, the mediator, assists two or more parties in order to help them negotiate an agreement, with concrete effects, on a matter of common interest; lato sensu is any activity in which an agreement on whatever matter is researched by an impartial third party, usually a professional, in the common interest of the parties.

Mediation applies to different fields, with some common peculiar elements and some differences for each of its specialties. The main fields of application of mediation are business commerce, legal dispute and diplomacy, but minor forms can be found in other fields too. The mediation in marriages is technically admitted in the category, even if it follows an own history since the times of ancient Greeks.

The activity in itself is indeed very ancient, presumably started with Phoenician commerce (but it has been supposed it was in use in Babylon too), and developed in Greece (where the mediator is called proxenetas - not in the sense of marriage mediator), then in Roman civilisation, where mediation is recognised in roman law starting form Justinian s Digesto. In Rome the mediator was called with a variety of names, among which internuncius, medium, intercessor, philantropus, interpolator, conciliator, interlocutor, interpres, and finally mediator. During the Middle Ages, mediation has been differently considered, sometimes forbidden, or its practice has been restricted to centralised authorities. In some cultures it was instead a sacred figure, tributed a particular respect, partly coincident with that of traditional wise men.

Unter Technik (altgriechisch τεχνη [techné], "Fähigkeit, Kunstfertigkeit, Handwerk"; vergl. auch das abgeleitete engl. w:technique) versteht man Verfahren und Fähigkeiten zur praktischen Anwendung der Naturwissenschaften und zur Produktion industrieller, handwerklicher oder künstlerischer Erzeugnisse.

Technik kann als die Fähigkeit des Menschen verstanden werden, Naturgesetze, Kräfte und Rohstoffe zur Sicherung seiner Existenzgrundlage sinnvoll einzusetzen oder umzuwandeln. Neben den materiellen Bedürfnissen (Nahrung, Kleidung, Wohnen) werden auch kulturelle Bedürfnisse durch die Technik gesichert.

Technische Fertigkeiten werden in Handwerk und Industrie auf den verschiedensten Ebenen benötigt. Angefangen bei Lehrberufen bis zu den Ingenieurwissenschaften. Letztere sichern den Erhalt bekannter und die Entwicklung neuer Techniken, sind aber mit Technik nicht gleichzusetzen.