History Main / NoTechButHighTech

* In many schools, students are forbidden to use "technology" in class, with "technology" understood to mean "cell phones". The fact that a pencil and paper also fits under the definition of technology is quite unlikely to be discussed.

The Oxford English dictionary defines technology as ''[[https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/technology The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry]]''. Anything that we've created, be it as simple as a sharpened stick to hunt and kill more easily, counts as technology.

* Played with in ''The Literature/Gamearth Trilogy'' by Creator/KevinJAnderson, in which the accepted idea that technology from one realm will not work in the other, magical, realm is questioned by a character who notices the vapor rising from his hot beverage and realizes that basic scientific principles still apply. In the final book, a steam engine, which should break down outside the borders of the technological realm, keeps running because there's no logical reason for it to fail.

* Played with in ''The [[Literature/Gamearth Trilogy]]'' by Creator/KevinJAnderson, in which the accepted idea that technology from one realm will not work in the other, magical, realm is questioned by a character who notices the vapor rising from his hot beverage and realizes that basic scientific principles still apply. In the final book, a steam engine, which should break down outside the borders of the technological realm, keeps running because there's no logical reason for it to fail.

* In many schools, students are forbidden to use "technology" in class, with "technology" understood to mean "cell phones".

-->-- ''WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic'', ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYevac7AFk Star Trek IX: Insurrection]]''

[[folder:Comic books]]

* In the episode "Fun on a Bun" of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' Zapp brannigan remarks that the Neanderthals attacking them don't have technology, despite most of said Neanderthals carrying clubs, spears, a cage on wheels to carry a giant sloth and even a catapult.

* In many schools, students are forbidden to use "technology" in class, with "technology" understoood to mean "cell phones".

* In many schools, students are forebidden to use "technology" in class, with "technology" understoood to mean "cell phones".

* The main setting of ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' is your standard medieval fantasy world, possibly with some early firearms if allowed by the GM. But then there's the nation of Numeria, which is overrun with robots and laser guns and such, which is what the rulebooks refer to as "technology". And of course the region has the obligatory Luddite town who nonetheless use period-appropriate weapons and agriculture techniques. The huge gap is at least explainable by the high-tech stuff having been salvaged from a wrecked spaceship.

* In the ''Literature/SmokeAndShadows'' series, magic involves the manipulation of ''all'' forms of energy. That can interfere with technology that is powered by electricity or emits things like radio waves. But in most cases this only happens if the particular magic being used specifically affects those things. Sometimes the exact reason may be mysterious. For example, cellphones cannot get a signal on the sound stage of CB Productions because there is a dimensional portal hanging invisibly in mid-air on the premises.

* Caesar's Legion in ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'' reject "modern" technology for fostering human weakness, with rather arbitrary boundaries for what is or isn't allowed--which isn't made clearer by Caesar [[ScrewTheRuleIMakeThem blatantly exempting himself from his own rules]]. Using most weapons (apparently including energy weapons and advanced {{Power Fist}}s) is fine, but they can't manufacture or rely on them, or use robots. The Legion only allow "tribal medicine" and not chems (drugs), not even [[HealingPotion stimpaks]], but the crafting system (and achievements) indicates the healing powder and bitter drink they use is ''literally the same drug'' dispensed by stimpaks. Even more bizarre, the Legion uses, manufactures, and possibly ''invented'' hydra, which is a very addictive chem.

'''Linkara:''' I'm sorry, but I'm not behind this... you HAVE machines. We saw your irrigation line, you idiots.

* As mentioned in the page quote, the film ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection'' features a group of Amish {{exp|y}}ies who reject technology -- except irrigation systems apparently aren't included in those rejections.

* The French short movie ''Technophobe'' ([[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNRUzu4fTgw here]]; you can choose Eglish subtitles) is about a man who becomes allergic to technology, "technology" in this case being used as a synonym for "electronic devices". The movie ends with him [[spoiler:literally adopting his grandmother's technology (she passes her stuff to him as a gift)]].

* In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' it's mentioned that the level of magic around Hogwarts causes havoc with technology. A camera, however, is able to work just fine with little explanation. Said camera is uses darkroom-developed film, so it can be assumed it's a purely mechanical model. Combined with the fact watches work just fine, it can be assumed the concentrated magic screws with any ''electronics'' more complex than a quartz oscillator.

-->'''Sojef:''' Our technological abilities are not apparent because we have chosen not to employ them in our daily lives. We believe that when you create a machine to do the work of a man, you take something away from the man.
-->'''Linkara:''' I'm sorry, but I'm not behind this...you HAVE machines. We saw your irrigation line, you idiots.
--> ''[[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfYevac7AFk Star Trek IX: Insurrection - Nostalgia Critic]]''

In fiction, however, the definition tends to get narrowed down to "inventions created within the last century" or even "anything digital". If you've got an episode where Alice mentions the presence of [[MagicVersusScience magic is making technology not work]] and they've have to do it old-school, don't worry - your slingshot would still work fine, and your clothes won't suddenly disintegrate into dust.

!Examples:
[[AC:Film - Live Action]]
* As mentioned in the page quote, the film ''Film/StarTrekInsurrection'' featured a group of Amish [[{{Expy}} expies]] who reject technology - except irrigation systems apparently aren't included in those rejections.

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Tabletop Games]]

[[AC:Video Games]]
* ''VideoGame/ArcanumOfSteamworksAndMagickObscura'' has magick being fundamentally incompatible with technology as its application makes complex mechanisms turn haywire - simple items like bows, swords of medieval suits of armor are fine however, even though technically bowyery or metallurgy still involve a level of technology. It can be presumed that such examples of technology are simple enough for magick to not interfere with their applications.

[[AC:Websites and Web Comics]]

* {{Discussed|Trope}} on ''Website/{{Springhole}}'': an article that talks about how "science vs magic" shouldn't really be a thing points out that despite what some people think, a computer and a candle both qualify as "technology".

[[AC:WesternAnimation]]

[[AC:RealLife]]
* In many schools, students are forebidden to use "technology" in class, with "technology" understoood to mean "cell phones".

At times, this trope is {{justified|Trope}} when the {{phlebotinum}} is stated to cause interference with electrical circuits as reason for why tech doesn't work, but then it's inconsistently applied: a car, for example, might or might not work depending on whether the writer [[ShownTheirWork knows that modern cars are increasingly drive-by-wire]], so when a driver switches gears for example it sends a signal to a computer who then switches gears for you, instead of the gear shift being directly tied to the transmission. Firearms, too, might or might not work depending on whether the writer was using the {{phlebotinum}} as an excuse for [[FantasyGunControl why nobody is going in guns blazing on the enemies]].

* In ''Franchise/HarryPotter'' it's mentioned that the level of magic around Hogwarts causes havoc with technology. A camera, however, is able to work just fine with little explanation.

In fiction, however, this point tends not to be brought up. If you've got an episode where Alice mentions the presence of [[MagicVersusScience magic is making technology not work]] and they've have to do it old-school, don't worry - your slingshot would still work fine, and your clothes won't suddenly disintegrate into dust.

* In the episode "Fun on a Bun" of ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'' Zapp brannigan remarks that the Neanderthals attacking them don't have technology, despite most of said Neanderthals carrying clubs, spears, a cage on wheels to carry a giant sloth and even a catapult.

The Oxford English dictionary defines technology as ''The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry''. Anything that we've created, be it as simple as a sharpened stick to hunt and kill more easily, counts as technology.

In fiction, however, this point tends not to be brought up. If you've got an episode where Alice mentions the {{phlebotinum}} is making technology not work and they've have to do it old-school, don't worry - your slingshot would still work fine, and your clothes won't suddenly disintegrate into dust.

See also EnforcedTechnologyLevels and LuddWasRight.