What if true modernity meant being able to do without the superfluous?
I advocate a return to low-tech, not a step backwards, but rather a reasoned choice: why add and multiply layers of technology when simple, sustainable and economical solutions already exist?
Low-tech means favouring simple, sustainable and accessible tools. It is the opposite of high-tech and its often superfluous added features.
But how can we distinguish between a real need and a desire created by industry?
Let's take the example of the traditional broom versus the cordless vacuum cleaner. Both fulfil the same function : cleaning, but each with a different impact:
| Criteria | Broom | Cordless vacuum |
|---|---|---|
| Cost (average) | Low | High |
| Lifespan (average) | 10+ years | Around 5–6 years |
| Maintenance | Manual cleaning | Filters, spare parts, repairs |
| Energy | None | Electricity, battery |
| Environmental impact | Low (wood, natural fibers) | High (battery, motor, electronics) |
| Autonomy | Unlimited | Limited by battery life |
Result: replacing a broom costs very little. Replacing a broken vacuum cleaner often means buying a whole new appliance.
We might ask ourselves: does progress really make our lives easier, or does it give us the illusion of comfort while making us dependent on technology?
Does progress really make our lives easier, or does it make us dependent under the guise of comfort?
One of the traps of technological progress is planned obsolescence.
By releasing new smartphone models every year, major tech companies convince us that our devices, although still functional, are “outdated”. Advertising does not sell a product, it creates an artificial need, often by playing on the fear of missing out.
Low-tech is also a philosophy of life:
- Re-learning to do things yourself: repairing, DIY, cooking without machines.
- Regaining independence: a low-tech tool does not break down because it needs an update.
- Rejecting the illusion of “always more”.
Low-tech is not a rejection of progress, but a choice: the choice to focus on what is essential.
- Fewer gadgets, more autonomy.
- Less dependence, more sustainability.
What if simplicity were the real innovation?