Reports are out that Apple is pushing back the mass production of the newest iteration of iPhones by about a month. Supply chains around the world are being disrupted by the pandemic, and big tech isn’t out of reach.
This got me thinking: what if there was a freeze on all new introduction to tech?
Of course, one month is hardly a blip in the grand scheme of things. But what if this freeze on new technology lasts up to a year, or years? There would be an increased demand for now-current technology, forcing those with fewer resources to take old technology.
There would be an emerging market for older phones and computers, ones that last longer than their more sophisticated counterparts. Some people might swear off technology altogether, returning to an Amish way of life. This would be a way to explore why some people go back to the farm, stories that are gaining popularity.
But outside of a pandemic, the question of why would have to be answered. There could be a scenario where the world finds out signals from advanced chips present in cell phones/computers are causing people to die. This is similar to the beliefs some people have around 5g technology.
If the world finds out that the technology industry has been advancing in the wrong directions for years/decades, the stage could be set for a scale-back in technology across the world. The tech corporations would have to figure out how to come up with new, safe products.
The story could be about a young couple who doesn’t want to give up their technology. The couple lives in the city. Without mobile technology, the amount of work available in cities dries up, but they refuse to leave. The story could begin with the discovery and could provide a firsthand glimpse at the decline of the space, and the emergence of organized crime. Similar to Prohibition-era moonshiners but this time, the computer whizzes are the outlaws. The struggle could occur when their power source gets taken away.
If the couple has the only access to continuous power, maybe an inherited windmill, they could be thrust into a position of leadership of an industry they know nothing about.
The second book in the series could be them dealing with a rival group, and the third would be about the recognition of the danger and attempts to take down the industry from the inside.
