The Pyramid of Technology: How will technology enchant us?

This question is an excerpt from the Pyramid of Technology toolkit

Take a mundane object from your house. Now ask yourself: How will this particular technology enchant me? Household objects we find mundane now, once enchanted people — why?

Arthur C. Clarke stated that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. Think about it, your smartphone is basically a black box that allows you to connect with your grandmother on the other side of the planet, as if through magical interaction.

What if we would envision the magic potential of new technologies? Wouldn’t our relationship with them become much more spiritual?

The following steps will help you formulate a vision for your enchanted technology.

Do it yourself!

• Describe a technology as if it were a magical object.
• Put effort into describing all the ways in which it has the potential to enchant people, do this in as much detail as possible.
• Try to picture a world in which this technology is not thought of as magical. What would need to happen today to get us there tomorrow?
• Make a list of all the magical features that could be implemented in your next design.
• Now go do it.

Your next (nature) design tool

The Pyramid of Technology toolkit is our conceptual navigation tool that visualizes how technology becomes nature. The box contains 70 cards with insights, exercizes and questions to help you dream, build and live in your next nature. Visit the Next Nature Academy and learn more about our workshops, methods and tools.