Our technologies now rely on a complex and non-optional supply chain (The Industry). Partly this is due to an increase in complexity, but it's also driven by w

Our technologies now rely on a complex and non-optional supply chain (The Industry). Partly this is due to an increase in complexity, but it's also driven by what "industry" wants. Things are being designed so they can't be fixed or even used without proprietary parts, consumables or services. The proportion of technology that works that way is increasing. Call it the "juicero effect". The wifi router, vacuum or watch that won't work without the manufacturer's cloud services. Tractors that you can't service yourself, that only keep working while you have a subscription. Printers that add magic dots and won't accept generic ink. Everything about phones, and increasingly, computers. This guarantees recurring revenue for suppliers, but the real evil is control. We're moving towards a world where you don't really "own" things, you're just licensed to use them. You may use them only insofar as the true owner (whoever control the supply of essential parts, consumables and services) allows. The idea of "technology without industry" is that we can and should have technology that doesn't have these means of control (by industry) built-in. Comma, for example is open-source. You don't have to buy their hardware, you can hack it yourself. You can fix it yourself. You can collect or share your own data. You can see how it works. What most companies want to build is an opaque black box. Some will just rent you rides. Even for vehicles you nominally own, "industry" will no doubt lobby to make it illegal to "tamper" with them, for safety reasons. Every ride will add to their moat. Self-driving car networks will be great... until your account gets cancelled for a terms of service violation. Or because Elon was pissed at your tweet. Or until the day you try to get a ride to a protest or a strike and the car tells you it can't take you there.