Every once in a while, just for kicks, I'll make a disparaging comment about "technology" or "computers" within earshot of my boss. She, I hope, finds these little asides humorous, and feigns horror in hearing such blasphemy come from the mouth of her director of technology.
I wonder, then, what she would think about me reading a book called "Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology." Probably best not to mention it, eh?
The author, Eric Brende, and his wife move to an Amish-like community and literally turn off the electrical switch. While I find this move to be fairly extreme, I do sympathize with their desire for less technology. I have a feeling that many of us would be better off if society was more judicious in its collective use of technology. The automobile, in particular, seems be coming quite close to a net negative for society. I watched a documentary recently (My Architect) on Louis I. Kahn. At one point, they discussed a vision he had for downtown Philadelphia where garages would be built around the downtown core, people would park, and walk to their destinations. No cars would be allowed in the central area. Sounds quite nice. Too bad they didn't go for it.
It becomes quite difficult, I think, to determine just how much technology is enough. Undoubtedly, technology is good (see: modern medicine, the expansion of information availability on the internet, etc). But also, it takes a toll. Finding a balance is hard for individuals, and harder, I'd guess, for society.
I don't have any answers just yet. But I think that striving for simplicity is a good thing. I'm not ready to become a subsistence farmer, but I'll keep working on simplifying stuff...
Posted by Karl
June 25, 2005 05:07 PM