The Industrial Revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race. They have greatly increased the life expectancy of those of us living in "advanced" countries, but they have destabilized society, made life unfulfilling, subjected people to indignities, led to widespread psychological suffering (in the Third World, likewise to physical suffering), and caused serious damage to nature. The ongoing development of technology will worsen the situation. It will certainly subject people to greater indignities and cause greater damage to the natural world, it is likely to lead to greater social disruption and psychological suffering, and it is likely to lead to increased physical suffering even in "advanced" countries.