W3: "A World Without Technology: A Blessing or a Curse?"

On an unusually hot morning, I woke up covered in sweat. I felt uncomfortable and tried to find my air conditioner remote on the bedside table, but no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't find it. I sat up to look around. I saw that my air conditioner had disappeared!

At first, I thought my family had taken it away for maintenance. I felt annoyed and opened my bedroom door, ready to complain. But I froze when I walked into the living room. The television, massage chair, air conditioner and other machines were all missing! My family members were equally shocked, standing in disbelief. For a moment, we thought we had been robbed.

I returned to my room to take my phone and call the police. But my phone was also missing! I searched everywhere, but it was nowhere to be found. When I told my family, they checked their phones, and it was also gone. We rushed into the kitchen, only to find that the refrigerator, oven, microwave and all other electrical appliances had disappeared. Even our car was also missing. We became more uneasy. A thief couldn’t possibly have taken all these items without making a sound, right?

When we stepped outside, the mystery increased. Every house in the neighbourhood was missing automobiles and appliances. Our neighbours came out, also looking confused and worried. There was no electricity, no internet and no sign of modern technology.

We grew up in the digital era, relying on technology for everything. But suddenly everything disappeared. We were like helpless children, wondering how to navigate this new environment.

After a moment of fear, we realised that worrying would not help. We still had to eat and survive. Fortunately, we had learnt some fundamental survival techniques previously. My family and I collected wood and built a fire to cook our meals. It was challenging at first, but we worked together without modern appliances.

Figure 1

The woodfire with pots

Note. The way we cooked with using woodfire and pots.

As I sat down to eat, I realised something. We had never prepared a meal together as a family before. It was a new experience which made me feel unexpectedly warm and meaningful. During the meal, we did not use our phones; we chatted together. We shared stories, laughed and had conversations we had never had before. It felt refreshing, like we were rediscovering each other.

Without phones, we could not communicate with our friends and relatives from time to time, we did not know what they were doing. There were no options to play mobile games, watch short videos, listen to music, shop online and so on. Without automobiles, we had to rely on bikes or walk to reach our destination. Long-distance travel becomes very difficult. Without clocks or phones, we could only estimate time based on the position of the sun. Work was also disrupted, without computers and equipment, progress was extremely slow, some tasks could not be completed at all. Without internet entertainment, our options were limited. The only things we could do were go to the park, ride bicycles and play outdoor games.

Figure 2

The family played together

Note. My family and I play outdoor games.

While life was suddenly more difficult, there were some surprising benefits. Without phones, we were more involved in real conversations. Face-to-face interactions increased, and no more online scams or false rumours spreading. Without automobiles, there were fewer accidents, no traffic jams and less noise pollution. The air was fresher, and the environment became cleaner.

After a few days in a world without technology, my family and I became closer. We cooked, exercised, played board games, planted plants, shared stories and did other. Through this experience, we learned more about each other and created memories we never had before.

A world without technology has both advantages and disadvantages. On the positive side, people become more connected, data privacy is protected, and society becomes healthier and more environmentally friendly. However, the difficulties are undeniable. Without technology, life becomes inconvenient, information spreads slowly, and daily tasks take much longer to perform. Cooking, cleaning and travelling become much more difficult.

In the end, I believe that technology should return. While technology has disadvantages as well, it also provides comfort, convenience and efficiency, which improves our quality of life. The purpose is to utilise technology properly, using its benefits while still maintaining real human connections. A world without technology may be charming, but for me, life is better with it