The Indian middle class has been benefited a lot by the advent of new technology. Much of this new technology has come in the last 30-40 years before which things were pretty much static. I would say the current generation of 'home makers' in the age group of 50-65 is one that has been impacted most. (I'm using the word 'impacted' and not 'benefited' for a reason I will go into later).
Mixer-grinders, microwave owens, LPG, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners and indeed electricity itself are some of the things this generation has seen coming into their lives. These ladies know what it means to live without these gadgets and hence appreciate them much better. But their daughters are born in a world with all these gadgets and hence their attitude to these gadgets is completely different.
Regular use of the grinding stone used to build brute, physical strength. Blowing into wood powered and kerosene stoves built lung power. Bending over double to wipe floors helped in keeping the body supple. More than anything else, it help inculcate tolerance levels, patience and endurance. Qualities you don't find in the current crop of youngsters - both male and female.
So, yes, there is no doubt that these gadgets have made life a lot easier for people but it also brought in a new set of body related and mind related problems along with them.
You can extend this analogy to practically any sphere of life, to any sample size of population belonging to any strata of society. You will find more or less a similar kind of cause and effect phenomenon.
We specialize in inventing technology which is supposed to improve our quality of life but which, over a period of time, in fact has the opposite effect.
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