The Case for Technological Foot-Dragging

Heather C. Smith argues in Public Discourse that delaying the adoption of new technologies can help individuals and families become more intentional and humane. Writing from a midlife perspective, Smith suggests that a cautious or reluctant approach to innovation provides a beneficial buffer against constant cultural shifts.

Smith notes that while most people cannot live entirely off the grid, families can make small choices to wait before purchasing new technologies for their homes. This practice of technological foot-dragging serves as a way to resist being wholly consumed by the current zeitgeist.