There is actually a book out by
Edward Tenner called
Why Things Bite Back, which identifies the situation described above as
revenge effects. These effects are those that occur even when technology is used to better the world. In essence, this
theory states that every
technological advance fosters paradoxical, often unpleasant consequences. As we complicate the
systems which govern our lives, revenge effects multiply.
For example, air-conditioned subways raise platform temperatures by as much as 10 degrees F; some computer users get painful, wrist-numbing carpal tunnel syndrome; flood control systems encourage settlement of flood-prone areas, inviting disaster; 6% of all hospital patients become infected with microbes they encounter during their stay.
Tenner's argument maintains that, with society's growing dependence on the advances we make, people lose the ability to perform tasks which they might once have been able to perform without technology. In order to counteract these revenge effects, it is our responsibility to promote more, not less, human work and vigilance in the face of advancement so that survival remains possible if we were to lose the advantages we have today.