For your consideration:

Consider Wendell Berry's helpful and practical (doable!) criteria for deciding whether or not to use a new technology, written in 1987:

1.  The new tool should be cheaper than the one it replaces.

2.  It should be at least as small in scale as the one it replaces.

3.  It should do work that is clearly and demonstrably better than the one it replaces. 

4.  It should use less energy than the one it replaces.

5.  If possible, it should use some sort of solar energy, such as that of the body.

6.  It should be repairable by a person of ordinary intelligence, provided that he or she has the necessary tools. 

7.  It should be purchasable and repairable as near to home as possible.

8.  It should come from a small, privately owned shop or store that will take it back for maintenance and repair.

And finally, this last one is particularly worthy of our consideration: 

9.  It should not replace or disrupt anything good that already exists, and this includes family and community relationships.  

 -Wendell Berry, "Why I Am Not Going to Buy a Computer."

p.s.- I know, I know.  It is indeed ironic that I first read and am posting this list onto the Internet with a computer (two things Wendell clearly had, and continues to have, no use for).  But I've already got one, so I'll work on applying these principles from here on out.  As soon as I find some solar panels.  Deal?