I was thinking about the technology I would least want to do without. I came up with the list below in descending order of importance. I believe if I had only these things (and food, shelter, and clothing), that I could be completely happy and productive.
2. Electricity
3. Computer and internet
4. Basic soaps and cleaning supplies
5. Indoor lighting
6. Car (or comparably convenient transportation)
7. Sewage system
8. Refrigerator
9. HVAC
10. Washer and Dryer
11. Toaster Oven
12. Paper towels (multi-purpose: cleaning, plates, napkin, tissue, etc.)
13. Windows and shades
14. Sunglasses
15. Microwave
16. Silverware
Probably your list would look very different from mine, but I cannot think of anything really important that I am missing. I know a lot of people would include cell phone on their list, but for me it is mostly a nuisance.
It is amazing to reflect on the recency of availability of these things. 99% of humans who have touched the Earth never had the opportunity to use most of these things and still today many do not. I wonder how this list would look different if I lived 1,000 years in the past. Or 1,000 years in the future.
