Yesterday evening I was sitting in my flat, working on my book, when the doorbell rang. I’d just begun a difficult chapter on how to define one’s needs when investing in new technology, and got up reluctantly to answer the door. My neighbor was standing on the stairs looking pretty confused.
                   “I know it’s late, but I need some advice,” he said. I let him in and poured him a cup of tea. We sat down and he continued: “My wife’s freaking out. We had a hell of a quarrel because I want to buy a new computer, so I thought maybe you could help me with a couple of good arguments.”
                   “Why do you need a new computer?” I asked.
                   “Well … First of all my old computer is not fast enough,” he said. “A new computer will run much faster.”
                   “Why do you need a faster computer?”
                   “Umm ...” He looked thoughtful for a moment and said: “The new version of my drawing program takes up too much space to run on my old computer.”
                   “When was the last time you wanted to make a drawing on your computer?” I asked.
                   “I actually haven’t done much drawing on my computer yet, but maybe I’ll want to if I buy a new one. Don’t you think?”
                   I told him that in my experience this wouldn’t make a difference. He might as well believe that an expensive camera would turn him into an enthusiastic photographer. We often buy something in the hope it will change our lives, but passion that endures comes from within.
                   “Well …,” he said and thought it over for a moment, “but my old computer is too slow when I use the net.”
                   “If I were you, I would regard this as an advantage,” I said.
                   “Why?”
                   “The other day you told me you don’t have enough time to spend with your family,” I said. “Keeping a slow and old computer will help you communicate less with people at a distance and more with your wife and children.”
                   “Yes … maybe.” He said. “But one thing is sure: The word-processing system that comes with the computer I want to buy can do a lot more than the one I have now.”
                   “Are you lacking any specific functions?” I asked.
                   “No, but its no harm having access to as many functions as possible.”
                   “My computer can do endless things I don’t need,” I said. “If you’re interested in writing, you don’t need much more than the alphabet. How much writing do you do on your computer?”
                   “Not that much …” He thought a little and continued. “But I might feel like taking up writing if I had a more advanced word-processing system …” He stopped when he remembered what I’d said about the drawing program. Instead he said: “The computer I have in mind buying has an advanced data-base tool that will help me catalogue a lot of things.”
                   “Like what?”
                   “Ehm …,” he thought about it for a moment before continuing, “… for instance my book collection.”
                   “But do you think you would bother turning on your computer to find out what’s on your bookshelf?”
                   “Nay … but …” He looked thoughtful for a moment.
                   “How many books do you have?” I asked.
                   “Umm … I actually don’t have many at the moment, but with a new computer …” His voice trailed off and instead he said, “What I could use is a machine with a more advanced bookkeeping program – a program that will help me figure out the family budget more precisely and things like that."
                   “With your rent, car and insurance expenses, I dare say I could figure out your budget faster in my head than it would take you to turn on your computer,” I said.
                   He sat looking disappointed for a second and then began talking about sound- and image-processing systems, without being able to give valid arguments for buying a new computer. Finally he said, “Maybe I don’t need a new computer, but the kids are getting pretty bored with their old computer games.”
                   “If they’re bored with the old games, it won’t be long before they’re bored with the new ones, too.”

When my neighbor had left, I knew he’d buy himself a new computer in spite of what we’d talked about. Maybe there ought to be a section in my textbook about why we believe we constantly need the newest of the new. We use rational arguments, but act intuitively. It’s part of human nature: one’s always feeling there’s something missing, without quite knowing what it is – the indefinable itch. Our little encounter started me thinking. If we’re all like my neighbor, why should I bother defining needs about investing in new technology when nobody would listen anyway? Maybe it is okay to get carried away and do things without being rational. On my computer I made a memo:

Society is built around a legislative, executive, judicial and monitorial system - that is: politicians, the police, the courts and the media. Infotopia is built around a self-eulogizing, developmental, dreaming and overwhelming system; that is - journalists, technicians, politicians and consumers.