Tech improves life - or does it?

In most developed societies, technology has become so embedded in daily life that its benefits are often taken for granted. From washing machines and laptops to streaming services and digital assistants — convenience is seen as progress. Many assume that technological innovation always leads to greater wealth, comfort, and societal advancement. But is that always true?

This essay explores the quieter costs and hidden limits of modern technology — especially for those outside the idealized urban bubble.

Infrastructure: The Invisible Prerequisite

"A dishwasher only improves life if the electricity works."

This may sound obvious, but in large parts of the world — including regions of Africa, Asia, and Latin America — power grids are unstable. A family might own a washing machine, but if electricity is only available intermittently, it becomes a symbol of frustration rather than convenience.

In these settings, owning a device often requires backup systems like generators and fuel. If those are unavailable or unaffordable, daily life reverts to manual labor. Well-intentioned efforts to “equip” households with modern appliances sometimes ignore the infrastructural gaps that determine actual usefulness.

Planned Obsolescence and Rising Costs

The smartphone you buy today may not function properly in two years — not because it’s broken, but because the software no longer supports its hardware. Batteries degrade. Updates fail. And features become buggy or unusable.

This creates recurring costs that disproportionately affect lower- and middle-income users. Most consumers don't need groundbreaking features — just basic performance. Yet they are nudged into replacing otherwise functional devices due to engineered incompatibility. The economic pressure is subtle but steady.

Repairability and Access

When a device breaks, who can fix it?

Modern appliances are often complex, proprietary, and require specialized tools or expertise to repair. In remote towns — whether in Cameroon or Chile — the nearest technician may be hours away. Parts might be unavailable. And repair costs sometimes exceed the cost of replacement. For many, this discourages purchasing in the first place.

Durability and maintainability are often sacrificed for design or profit margins.

Subscriptions: The New Drain

The shift from ownership to access is often praised — but it carries costs.

Streaming platforms, cloud tools, and even productivity apps now demand monthly or annual fees. A generation that once owned DVDs, music, and standalone software now finds itself “renting” access to content and tools. While each fee seems small, they accumulate quickly — especially as platforms fragment and exclusive content is siloed.

What began as freedom of choice has morphed into constant micro-payments, often unnoticed until budgets are stretched thin.

Overengineered Transportation

Modern cars are often described — not fondly — as “tablets on wheels.”

Screens replace buttons. Interfaces become complex. And costs rise. Many drivers just want reliable transportation, basic heating and cooling, and perhaps a way to play music. GPS navigation via smartphone is more than enough. Yet car manufacturers continue to compete in technological excess, while affordability slips further out of reach.

Leasing has replaced ownership for many. And the idea of buying a car outright — once common — is now considered a luxury.

Psychological and Social Costs of Tech

The “attention economy” has measurable psychological effects: reduced focus, dopamine dysregulation, and rising loneliness. Children now spend hours in front of screens — whereas just two decades ago, outdoor play and physical activity were the norm. There's a growing illusion of social support: having hundreds of followers or online "friends" doesn’t guarantee real-world presence in times of crisis — illness, grief, or daily assistance. Another crucial fact: Digital burnout is rising, even among knowledge workers. Many do not want to deal with technological questions, updates and working "digitally" at home. There is a massiv industry promoting strategies, apps and advice for people who are tired of being "followed" by technology everywhere. In addition, smart devices can reduce self-reliance (e.g., navigation dependency). This is especially among older adults and individuals with cognitive or learning challenges.

A problem that many tech companies do not know how to solve longterm: What to do when their technology becomes so complicated that a big part of the population cannot use it without assistance?

Unequal Access to Innovation

A tool that’s transformative in New York might be useless in rural India. Going back to the washing machine: It might be better to create a simple washing machine that can be set in motion manually than the westernized version of a washing machine running on electricity. It is easy to fix and still speeds up the process of washing compared to washing by hand while being physically less daring for the person who needs to do the washing.

Another issue is the language barrier. To translate technical terms and explanations to a language that lacks the "technical" vocabulary, is tricky. In addition, not every person has the same education or mental capacity to actually process how a technological device should be used, maintained and fixed. Therefore, the "global" roll-out of innovation is deeply uneven.

The Myth of Efficiency

The technological divide leads into another overlooked issue: the myth of efficiency.

Many tasks are now faster — but people are busier than ever. To make a stark contrast: My mother used to receive around 10 letters every week. There were no email 3o years ago. This means although she had to write back by hand or with a typewriter, the sheer amount of messages, letters and promotion material was a lot less than it is today. So yes, we might be quicker to read and send an email. But the fact that we need to go through 30 emails daily on our private account is VERY time consuming and takes away from the "efficiency".

Looking Ahead: What Do People Actually Want and Need?

Not everyone needs the most innovative product. In fact, many would prefer something reliable, simple, and durable. A “retro” model that balances aesthetics with utility could perform better in markets that are saturated, fatigued, and price-sensitive.

Progress doesn’t have to mean complexity.

It’s worth asking: what kind of technology actually improves life — and for whom?

Let’s Continue the Conversation

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Let’s explore these questions together — calmly, critically, and clearly.