Edit: I'm awful at this reading thing. Please see the replies to this comment for a correct definition of "hard tech". My original comment follows.
.
I think "hard tech" in this instance means "technology in the form of hardware" or "technology that is physically manifest" and not "technology that is difficult."
.
I think "hard tech" in this instance means "technology in the form of hardware" or "technology that is physically manifest" and not "technology that is difficult."