Technological advancements are frequently acclaimed by many people as a boon to health, leisure, work, and other facets of life. Consider, for example, the historical impact of innovations such as airplanes, automobiles, computers, and medicines as well as their continued improvement.

It is often assumed that technology offers more of an opportunity for progress than a threat to humanity. Daniel Burris, author of Technotrends: How to Use Technology to Go Beyond Your Competition, introduces readers to “twenty-four new tools for the twenty-first century,” including advanced compact discs, digital interactive television, and endoscopic surgery, which he believes will enable their users to “gain the decisive edge” in business and technology. Similarly, author McKinley Conway goes so far as to say, “Technology will become the top political and economic issue of the times, as...