Awe and the Machine

[David Morris]

http://incharacter.org/observation/1awe-and-the-machine/

Today, we no longer approach our many machines with awe; in fact, the
more personalized and individualized our machines have become, the
less humility we feel in using them. No longer the large, rare dynamos
of Adams's day, our machines are often portable and are such a central
part of our everyday lives that we barely notice their presence.
Rather than awe-inspiring symbols of man's power, they are merely
extensions of ourselves, like the cell phone that helps us communicate
or the microwave that speeds the cooking of our dinner. They are
servants of our whims rather than objects of reverence.