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This post may be more about hope than reality. I am questioning whether I am “trying too hard” to find signals of a counter-trend to techification. I am becoming more afraid that the march of technology is prolonging the current neoliberal capitalism system and steering us toward collapse. OurTech-Led Abundance guiding image of After Capitalism is a positive one. I am not inherently anti-tech. Technology enabling abundance is perhaps an easier path than “analog.” In discussing the three After Capitalism guiding images, I have consistently shared my fears that Tech-Led Abundance is the one mostly likely to “go wrong.” By that I mean that it is closest to the existing system and most likely to be co-opted by it. Maybe that fear is what is driving me to look harder for signals going against the grain of techification. I will note that when I’ve asked students and audiences about this, they say they are seeing the analog signals as well.
With my bias revealed, let’s move on. I’m not sure “analog” is the most useful characterization. Is it real vs virtual? Physical vs digital? Simplicity vs complexity? Enoughness vs abundance? If you’re thinking, it’s not either-or, I’m with you — and thinking more like a slider or continuum and asking which direction it may, or perhaps should, go.
For this post, I went through my last year or so of After Capitalism posts and pulled out those signaling analog to some degree. I note that with these, it is a lot about simplifying our lives. I find it somewhat ironic that technology is now viewed as complicating our lives despite its loud messaging about making our lives easier and more convenient.
- A Q1 2026 Signal: Tired of AI, people are committing to the analog lifestyle in 2026: It’s a pretty direct one here!
- Rewilding: From Ridiculous to Useful: The shift away from human intervention and back to nature.
- Involuntary Enoughness: The simplicity theme is shown here … shifting from choice to necessity.
- After Capitalism Shift #9 The Future Is Local: The local signals are very, very strong and almost unanimously point toward simpler lifestyles.
- Abundance Doesn’t Mean More Stuff: It’s more of a critique of techification.
- Capitalism Out of Synch with Shifting Values: Enoughness is identified as a major long-term values trend, but still on the edge.
- Degrowth Approaching the Mainstream? Degrowth emerges as a potential focal point for simplification and enoughness.
- Q3 2025 signal Having Too Much: Philosophical Essays on Limitarianism: Academics are getting into the game with simplicity framed as limitarianism.
- Q1 2025 two Signals ‘No Buy’ 2025 Is a Growing Trend. Here’s How to Do It: Demonstrates lesser and simpler again; Finding Peace and Purpose Off the Grid: People check out of mainstream life.
I’m going to dig through my larger set of scanning libraries and see if I can find more signals directly suggesting analog. – Andy Hines
This is a fun scanning hit – GenZer’s around the world are showing up to play Mahjong, a 19th century game from China. They are attracted to it’s tactile nature. It’s been by far the most popular game at the local Whist Club. https://www.economist.com/culture/2026/03/25/young-people-all-over-the-world-are-clicking-with-mahjong?giftId=NTEzYmIxNDEtMWIxMy00OTFhLTkwYWYtYzQ1ZjA5ZGI4OTlk&utm_campaign=gifted_article
yes! seeing those kinds of anecdotal things. Since the info comes via the techification, it’s hard to really know. Presents interesting challenges to scanning. How to scan analog … we used to do it, but it was very challenging, haha!
Great point of concern and need for clarification. I know one my most strident arguments for wanting to work in Futures is to paint Protopian scenarios that provide a way through all of this.
I have been one of those people implementing all this technology we live in since the mid-1980’s. I know how to do it, I know the value propositions, and I see them as favorable “capabilities” and that they have made our lives better, when properly channeled. I’ve been well compensated for it!
However, I see the contrived, misguided, and mind-numbingly base ways that our connectedness has been applied and the damage it is doing to humanity. I am not a fan. Intellect dropping, relationships accepting textual sentiments in place of actual care and interaction. And this is just at the interpersonal level.
I am even more concerned with the power grabs and world-shaping that is being afforded by technology and how that will manifest itself and to what irreversible effects.
In the meantime, I am trying my best Zen approach to all interactions, accepting people where I find them…, but shaping direction where I can.
I appreciate all I am learning from your insights and exploration. Thanks!
thanks for sharing this! Absolutely. Tech can be used for good .. .should be … hopefully will be. We need techie folks with this Zen!!!