What’s a piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why?

This writing prompt was suggested by Pika, from Kevin McDonald’s library.

My immediate answer was “electricity”, because it powers so much of today’s infrastructures.

Now, for a more thought out approach, we first need to define what technology is. Then, we need to define what being able to live without something means.

• Oxford Languages: the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry

• Cambridge Dictionary: (the study and knowledge of) the practical, especially industrial, use of scientific discoveries

• Wiktionary: The combined application of science and art in practical ways in industry, as for example in designing new machines.

“The practical use […] of scientific discoveries”… Wow that’s a lot! Almost everything around us nowadays is derived from a scientific discovery.

For the purpose of this exercise, let’s consider “modern” technology. Things that require some form of industry to exist or to be produced.

Being able to live without something

Without

Does that count if my wife can use the thing? Let’s say I chose to live without a smartphone. I may still benefit from it when I’m around people who have one.

Should we instead consider that this specific thing doesn’t exist at all, like it’s never been invented?

I believe the latter is more interesting. Otherwise we’d have to refine the scope ; or I could just go over to my neighbor’s and use the damn thing.

Being able to live

If I can physically live without something but I’m not happy, does that count? I’d say no.

Am I conscious what I’m living without? There were happy people before electricity was invented, but I doubt that anyone who had a good taste of it would be glad to lose it.

Rephrasing

Let’s piece it all together:

What’s a piece of technology you couldn’t live without, and why?

A piece of technology: something whose existence requires some form of industry.

Living without it: the thing has disappeared from the surface of the planet like it’s never been invented but I’m conscious what I lost.

I’m coming around to electricity! In itself it’s a natural phenomenon but I’m referring to the industrial, contemporary version that we all use day to day. Flick a switch and the light turns on, things like that.

We use it so much in our daily lives that it’s often only when it’s off that we realize how miserable we are without it. Like after climbing 7 flights of stairs because the elevator doesn’t work during a blackout.

It also made possible a vast number of subsequent inventions, scientific discoveries, or industrialization of critical processes like mass-producing vaccines.

To electricity! 💡🔌