Technology--or rather, particular implementations of it--are like enzymes, dropped into our protein pool of possibilities. They lower the activation energy of various tasks. Our rate of communication is greatly increased by our mobile phones; the energy required to clean our clothes is greatly reduced by washing machines.

Lowered activation energy isn't always a good thing. How much time is idly wasted with mobile devices? How much plastic is needlessly created and cast off into the environment? Without these enzymes, would our finite human resources be more satisfyingly spent? As with biological well-being, technological health is a layered process. The enzyme suppliers must be aware of the long-term effects of their product, though the final responsibility lies with the well-informed user.