There are a ton of low tech devices I can't live without, so I will proceed from low low tech to a bit higher.

Pen or Pencil: I don't think there is anyone alive who could live without these implements, and they are old, but imagine the founding father writing with a feather, and they would leap for joy if they say a pen.

Car or bycicle: also something simple, but going to the grocery store, or a restaurant would be a chore without these forms of locomotion. Not only that, but the trek to my 8:30 class would go without breakfast if I couldn't bike to class.

ATM: Having class all day, and then work I would never be able to actually go to my bank, so using an atm is a god send if I need cash.

Calculator: This one is the most useful, since I don't even want to imagine doing a Chemistry or calculus class with a slide rule.

There are many more, but these are the one I could not live without in a modern society.

This is my 1st comment on the site.  I have been coming to the site for a while now watching 16 bit Gems but I only started to watch the Weekly Ringer after the PS1 Games of Importance episode.  The whole ep I was like "I hope someone says Twisted Metal!"  Since then I signed up and waited for a topic that I had a passionate opinion about.  I am almost done watching all the back eps aswell.  Anyway onto my opinion...

The low tech device I couldn't live without would be the Television! (pre HD)

I couldn't imagine not watching T.V. shows, movies, playing video games!

We have taken the concept of the Television and used it in sooooo many ways!

Ex: Computer Monitors, portable gaming machines(gameboy/ds), atm machines, cell phone interface, and the laptop screen im looking at right now as i type this just to name a few!

There are alot of other low tech things I couldn't live without like my Bike I use to get to work, My fridge that keeps my food fresh and my oven i use to cook said food! Ill just leave it at that because now a million things are coming to mind.

But being a gamer as a hobby ill go with the Television!

Thank You!

in response to lenois list, while I can see why those items would work for him/her, I find most of the list to be things I've managed to replace or no longer find necessary: I generally type anything I need to write down nowadays; I walk for any short distance travel, and use a train for long distances; an ATM would be a godsend for me... if the nearest one wasn't also attached to the outside of my bank, and I currently have no time restrictions, so I can just go inside; I no longer have calculus, chemistry or physics. I no longer require a calculator, as the most complex mathematics I have is addition, subtraction or multiplication. I can perform that in my head w/o a calculator.

However, he's not the only one who has multiple items to nominate. Roll up, Roll up as I present this weeks contenders for the scientific d6 sweepstakes

1) Fan Oven: I do a lot of cooking and baking. And a fan oven reduces the cooking time, and prevents me from setting myself on fire trying to light it, like a gas oven would.

2) Gaming Consoles: Since the Commodore did say that lo-tech is the non-cutting edge tech we have, that means all of my consoles apply. I generally change, so I'm putting the whole shebang as my number two

3) Light Bulbs: As mentioned in the oven statement, I have a propensity to burn myself around naked flames. So the ability to light my home without an incendiary device being involved is a god send

4) Electronic Safe: I have many things that I don't want to disappear. Something that prevents that is something I couldn't do without.

5) Bass Guitar Amp: I like being able to hear what I'm playing when I practice w/o having to use something thats twice as tall as me

6) AC Adaptors for portable games consoles: I went through a pack of 8 duracell in a weekend because of pokemon red. I didn't know that was possible until I did it. Thank god they brought these out, I would have ended up spending an even bigger fortune on batteries if they hadn't

And there's your contenders. Who do you think the dice will choose? Place your bets now...

If I were not wearing my glasses right now, I couldn't even see what was written on the screen, let alone function properly in society.

Oddly enough, the principles of electronics, control of the flow of energy, were essentially understood centuries before the principles of optics. Does that make corrective lenses hi-tech? We take them for granted, though.

Everything else is just a luxury. I use a calculator every day, (and a slide rule, on occasion, oddly enough) but I don't need to, as long as I refresh on exactly how to do the mathematics required. I can do it all by hand. I can live without a calculator.

Glasses, though, we'd all be dead if I had to drive anywhere without those.

For the record, my favorite film score composer: Ennio Morricone
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ennio_Morricone

Echo Screen got a couple mentions this week. Can we expect any more of those in the future?

The reason I chose the things I did have a lot to do with geography and lifestyle.

I write on the move in a notebook, take notes, and work in a school where I need a pen or pencil to take attendance and such.

My bank is almost a mile away from my home, and does not open on saturdays, so I can't go in to it casually since I am not available during operating hours.

Lastly I live in Vermont, so I hardly have the option to use a train, since they only go down the western side of the state, although they do pick up around here, and while I can get around on a bus, that is a type of car, and only really can take me to places imediately in my city.

The calculator I might be able to live without, but the others are big neccesities with my lifestyle and location.

Edit: I do understand that they aren't neccesities for you, but I was just providing further explanation.

I also do agree with most of your ideas, although I could live without TV, although not without a television. I think there is a key difference between that.

This is a really tough one.  First I want to agree with Young-blood with the oven or stove all together.  There are so many other things that would be considered low tech that we take for granted though that I couldn't see living without.  Staying in the kitchen there is also pots and pans.  Before that people cooked on rocks and on sticks.  Really would not work in today's society.  Silverware is another one.  Eating would be a much bigger chore without them.  Even the can opener makes preparing alot of food a possibility in today world.

Then there are other parts of the house that have low tech devices that people take for granted.  You have the toilet, sink, and shower witch I would like to just group together as indoor plumbing.  Another thing that would be hard to live without.

Then there is todays furniture that could be considered low tech devices.  A bed, chairs, couch, desk, and even your bureau.

There is also like Young-blood said with the light bulb.  Witch also bring up indoor electricity with runs so many other low tech devices.  Such as a vacume, a fridge/freezer,  a radio, or even that low-tech tv that has been mentioned a few times.

There are also some devices that may not apply to me but loved ones.  Without glasses my wife would not be able to see.

So in my opinion when you look at that everything that we use and take for granted on a daily bases can mostly broken down to a low-tech device I can't choose just one.  So many things that are required now a days to just get through the day they didn't have hundreds, or thousands of years ago that can be considered a low-tech device.  

An indoor toilet.

An indoor toilet.

I do it old school, bushes and front lawns, and of course in a cup, with two girls.

I find this weeks question a bit difficult because I'm not sure exactly where you draw the line between low and high tech. 

Going through my life span and thinking about it though I think I know what answer I'm going with, and it's something that I think goes right along with Mr. K's response.

The printing press.

Most of my youth I didn't have a home computer, just the ones at school. we never had a vcr so that's something i never missed either. But reading... 

I don't think I could ever have gotten through my youth if it weren't for books. Being able to escape into a novel or short story. And Mr.K I ask you!  Where would you be with all that fancy indoor plumbing without the humble printing press. Sitting on the throne without something to read? What a miserable existance.

So, yeah, definately the printing press. 

....you know, I really honestly cannot argue with Lenoir's answer of a pen or pencil. I definitely agree on that.  Absolutely. And this is especially true for me because I'm an art person. I don't use tablets and do everything electronically; no way. I don't have anything against that kind of art; I actually do like it and there are things I wish I knew how to do (but that's another story). However, there's just something about using a pencil and doing it all by hand the old-fashioned way, of course, having an actual, physical copy of something, whereas with digital work, it was done by hand, but it exists only as data.

    I think we can also all agree with Mr. K's respone of an indoor toilet. Absolutely. I don't even need to add anything else to that.

   Then I read Aestolia's answer, and I....definitely agree with that, too! I don't have my own personal printing press, of course; I...don't even have a printer for my computer. Oh yeah. Believe it. :x But without the existence of the printing press period (man, so much alliteration..), wow...where in the Hell would I be?? I...just can't imagine, and don't want to imagine, a life without printed material. Scary, that is! D:

  However, if you want an original, and personal answer of mine,  I would also probably say my Swiss Army knife. Boy, I used to carry that around with me all the time, literally, when I was a...somewhat wee lad. I still have that same knife, and well....the parts don't move that well anymore; they may need to be oiled, or maybe sprayed with some WD-40, or something. But the one thing on that knife I use all the time is the little scissors. I have found it to be perfect for cutting nails, and such, and after all these years, it's still pointy and pretty sharp. The actual knife blades are still useful, too, but well, again, the problem is, they don't come out so good anymore... :x

   Oh before I forget, in regards to the AFI, well, anyone can join the AFI, actually. However, I think in regards to their lists, juries are selected who vote on the matters, and most likely, it's the Board of Trustees who selects the jury. The BoT may also vote on their own lists sometimes, I suppose. As far as how you'd become a member of the Board, I have noooooooo idea; you probably have to already be in the industry, for one thing, of course.

    It is interesting if they chose Return of the Jedi as having the greatest movie score ever. I don't deny there is greatness in there, but as I explained, most of Williams's works do have their signature tracks which tend to be the highlight of that score. Although RotJ has some very great, highlight pieces, and well, the whole score itself is great anyway,  I still think A New Hope overall overshadows it, for its iconic status, if nothing else.

my desktop computer....zing!

Seriously though, my calculator from around 2003 can solve complex integrals....pretty happy with it as a student going for a masters in statistics.

If i need to go even "lower" tech, gotta go with the good ol refrigerator. Much better than the old old days of using salt to preserve food.

Printing press is a great answer though. Im only 24, and even I love to read newspapers and books the "old fashioned" way. Despite being of the generation where I'm supposed to do all that stuff online or via kindles.

What an open ended question and I'm glad I'm not the first to say this but Light.

I mostly have flourescent bulbs now in my room but even incadescent lighting is useful. I also like to read at night and have those little book clip lights with LEDs in them. I also have a couple flashlights. I even have candles if it comes down to it.

Although I do use it minimally so I don't get too dependant on it the furnace and Air conditioners (or even a simple fan) are a close second in this race.

Of course I love my gaming systems new or old, but they do not heat or take care of me like a stove, microwave and indoor plumbing. Even if we just do a cookout on the grill I thank God for matches and lighters.

For my own personal pleasure my low-tech device of choice is the CD player and prior to that, a tape recorder. Why? Because I like to listen to music before bed. I currently have a copy of the Final Fantasy VI Grand Finale CD in there - Orchestrated versions of some of the music from the game I might add - and I rather love it. I've had this habit for a long time so even after I no longer needed a night light to ward off things that go bump in the night, I lull myself to sleep listening to music. I've made my own CD mixes and listened to game sound tracks, Christmas CDs and more, swapping out at my own discression. Even if I'm usually asleep by the third track I like having something to listen to before bed. My CD player busted a while ago and it was a little unsettling for the first few nights, the same way it is when I would visit a friend's house and they don't listen to music before bed. Not that I need to have it anymore, but it's a comfort. I did use my iPod briefly to try and replace my CD player but... the sound mixes on my music vary so greatly it was jarring.

I was going to say RotJ just from the stuff I have personal experience with.  "Luke and Leia" and "Brother and Sister; Father and Son" are just enormously fantastic pieces. I think the AFI was right on. Sure the Imperial March from ESB definted the Empire, but the two I mentioend go beyond that. And yeah, I do like Ep I's score, too. Not nearly as much as the originals, though.

I couldn't live without a shower or bath (more a shower). God, if I am feeling disgusting I don't feel like doing a single thing. I was gonna say refrigerator, but this would be even worse to live without.

And Mr.K I ask you!  Where would you be with all that fancy indoor plumbing without the humble printing press. Sitting on the throne without something to read? What a miserable existance.

You know, this isn't the first time I've encountered that statement in the last few weeks. In fact, I've had it directed at me at least four times.

Undoubtedly I have a good constitution. Even at 28, I've never spent more than five minutes on the pot at a time. There's no reason for me to read anything.

I have to say the radio. As i usually have the BBC on before I go to bed, it allows me to catch up on the news, and yet won't keep me up like a tv would.

There are many things I believe I cannot live without... so I might as well get into the conversation and come with some of them, these are just off my head.

Nr1. Pens - I am studying to become a teacher, and while most of the teaching today in Denmark is done by the pc and most of the students or pupils have laptops in school at least in Denmark I still do believe that Pens are something we will never ever be able to live without, and I for sure will never.

Nr2. Any tool that helps build something, be it a hammer or a screwdriver. Yes the industry is getting very intelligent and most of what is used are machines and such, but I still believe that we can´t live without them, and if everyone else can, then sorry to say but I am not one of them.

Nr3. (Special One) Okay I am pretty sure I will live without this device or home computer, but still I want to use it and I still consider it important to my childhood and therefor I need to have one, that is my old Commodore 64, I am sure I might be able to live without it, but here is to giving it some love.

Nr.4 Obviously I think we need shoes, I dont know if that is in the categorie you were looking for but we, I will always need shoes, I do have good feet, but still shoes are an amazing invention and something that I cannot in any way live without.

Nr.5 Oh and the last one this time around is my old guitar, I have had it for a lot of years, and I cannot live without it, I dont want the newer ones, I feel like that guitar is so important to me, it is very old but still works fairly well, so I guess I can´t live without that...

I guess that´s what I had for this session, these are some of the things I think I can´t live without, the one I would have most problems living without are naturally pens...

As I was watching I began thinking. The first 3 things to my head were caculator, pen and paper, and shoes. I see I'm late on all of those, and after reading through everyone's thoughts I think everyone has made some good points, even if some of them are a little bit more of a personal thing I still see the points given.

 Being only 14 and spending most of my time with technology I can't draw from past expiriences. Most of my time I was watching TV, playing games, online, or with family and friends just hanging out. I mean as I think about it now I definatly see the importance of many things, looking around my room I can easily list what I'd consider low tech and important (Table, Matress, Blanket, Pillow, Chair, Lamp, Bottled Water, Flashlight, Bag, Clothing, Clothing Hangars, Storage Units like Closets or Drawers, and Children Toys or things for Entertainment like balls or stuffed animals), but I could not decide with of these is my most important. I assume you had a favorite coming into this, but after you read all of our points you'll either be going "Damn, now I'm not so sure.." or "Ha, Ninto thinks I'm stupid and didn't see this coming! Oh, wait. Now he realizes I'm saying that. And that. Huh.", but I don't know how much time you spend thinking about these questions.

So I will not give an answer saying there are so many casual items I could not live without. Well I could, but I'd really like to have. I just thought of walls, windows, and blinds. And a roof. Add that to my list.

I'm having a tough time with this question.  My first instinct is to define what a "low-tech device" really is.  I'm going to go with a modern invention that doesn't contain an integrated circuit (integrated circuits were invented in the early 1950's to replace vacuum tubes).  Integrated circuits in my opinion, are high tech.  They require a sophisticated manufacturing process, and are the cornerstone for all other "high-tech" devices, such as cell phones, computers, etc.  You mentioned that this device would be something that would wow someone 100 years ago, which is why I threw the "modern invention" in there.  This rules out a lot of things that other people have mentioned (cars, monitors, tvs, CD players, etc.).

Things like a flush toliet and the incandecent light bulb fit part of my definition, but they're not modern devices and have been around for well over 100 years.  Their form and function have remained largely unchanged since their invention.

So with that being said I had a hard time fitting my own rules for this weeks question.  I walked around my apartment trying to find low-tech things I couldn't live without, and didn't come up with much.  Then I saw my old college text books in my office and got to thinking (I got my Masters in Chemical Engineering about 2 years ago, not trying to gloat but it gives an idea on what kind of books I own).  I'm going to say that my modern education is my low-tech device that I can't live without.  I'm probably really bending the rules on this one, but I'm trying to be outside the box.  You can argue that it's not a "device," but it is something I use on a daily basis.  I certaintly couldn't live without it, because it puts food on the table.  I would say that it's low-tech, because it doesn't require anything other than my brain to use.  It's certainly modern, as I'm up to date with my field of study.  Maybe I'm really stretching on this one but what do you guys think about it being an answer?

While I would be able to live without most of the items that were already mentioned there are a few things a lot of us litteraly couldn`t live without.
What about pacemakers, medical instruments or artificial limbs? These little devices you test your bloodsugar with? Drastic already mentioned his glasses and I have to completely agree! Even the metal plates you get for your broken bones could count as a low tech device from my point of view.
We don`t often think about stuff like that and take it as granted.

Maybe that is not what you had in mind when you were asking the question but it was just the first thing that came to my mind. Still... doning you laundry by hand sucks... so a washer definitly is nice to have!

I've never spent more than five minutes on the pot at a time. 

I shall now call you... Thundergut! 

Seriously though, I usually don't actually NEED the time, so much as WANT the time. it's a chance to just steal a few moments from the ~cough~ shitier aspects of life. Why put up with crap if you can't get at least a little something out of it, besides releif.

Silverware. Nuff said.

Oddly, the lo-tech device I've learned I cannot function without is actually a simple box fan. I must have a box fan on at all times in my bedroom, otherwise everything just feels off. If it breaks after stores are closed and a replacement can't be purchased, then I know I won't be getting a good night's sleep. I've had at least two box fans broken by my dog, further proof that wishes me harm.

    I find the premise truly puzzling. Where does one demarcate the line between "low tech" and "high tech"? I for one revel in the simple pleasure of breaking bones.  Therefore, I find contemplating an existence without "sticks" and "stones" quite disheartening. Additionaly, I could use "sticks" OR "stones" OR "sticks AND stones" to create fire.

    The inability to create on demand or to control said fire would make lighting farts a difficult and potentialy dangerous exercise. I ask: How close would you approach a raging wildfire or erupting volcano to merely enjoy a fleeting pyrotechnic relief?

    Ultimately, without sufficiently robust sticks, and cunningly crafted stones, I couldn't roll my Harley Graniteson out of the cave on a Sunday to clog up the downhill lanes of the rolling hills and dells blissfully oblivious to the obstacle I present to those with reasons to be out, and those without shiny leather jackets. I would be unable to offer rides to my fellow clansmen. Of course, through the courtesy of Ted's (my)two feet.

   I now humbly submit my unworthy opinion for the perusal of my fellow clansmen. I am even prepared to accept your wrathfull ire. If my obsession of the miutia of "sticks" and "stones" has taught me anything, it is that words can never harm me.

I do have to agree with a number of previous mentions, especially the lightbulb, indoor plumbing, and automobiles. TV's are awesome, and as a gamer and computer tech, I need them. Old consoles are a good mention, but I can survive without them today because I have my computer, PS3, and Wii. Pens were a need in high school, but like others I tend to do most of my writing with a keyboard. 

Now to add a new device, what about speakers? There's something many people overlook and don't think about until they don't have them. I have a set of speakers set up pretty much everywhere I go. There are speakers in all 3 of my TV's, a speaker on my tablet, my computer, in my car, and a radio at work. Every phone has a speaker or two on it. Music is an important part of my life, and even all our lives are heavily impacted by the use of speakers every day in almost every gadget that exists. Just think about the implications of not having speakers for a moment. John Williams wouldn't be nearly as iconic without them. Can you imagine all the web shows like the Wringer even existing if we had to read them all? Then they would just be blogs.

This is a tough but very thought-provoking question. I don't think it would count as a device, but I would still have to point out that I couldn't live without newspapers. Sure it's much more convinient to have the news on my iphone wi-fi or something similar, but there's nothing quite like eating breakfast while looking through a newspaper. Its just a lot more information compressed into a little package while I don't have to worry about battery life; just ink stains.

I also have to point out that when it comes to gaming, I really need just a regular, one-piece, gimick-less game controller. As a nintendo fan, I really don't like where they're going in terms of controllers; the wii controller is fine for baseball, boxing etc, but when I want to play games like twilight princess of super smash bros brawl (you know the 5% of wii games that are actually good) then its just not playable to me. I shouldn't have to go back and use my gamecube controller, but I do whenever they give me the option. However, a lot of times I don't even get the option for a game like twilight princess, so I bought the gamecube version. It seems as if they are doing something similar  in terms of controls with the Wii U, but my memory is shotty so don't quote me on that.  I know Nintendo is being really innovative and they're making boatloads of money, but as a stubbord old-school gamer, I need a controller without gimmicks like motion control and I'm sure many people agree. 

Sorry I just thought of something else: I dont know if it counts as a device, but the actual case for a video game I purchase is something I absolutely need in my hands. I recently bought Grandia on Playstation network, and when I beat it I loved it so much that I had to have a physical copy; a downloadable file on a hard drive is nothing like the original copy. 

BTW Lenois

Thank you for bringing up horrible memories as I just threw up me breakfast on the newspaper I was reading.

Thank you for bringing up horrible memories as I just threw up me breakfast on the newspaper I was reading.

I appologize.

However, a lot of times I don't even get the option for a game like twilight princess, so I bought the gamecube version.

If one game on the wii worked well with motion controls it was twilight princess, was it what it was lauded to be, no, but it did a good job. Mario kart, super smash, and others not so much, but twilight felt good.

If one game on the wii worked well with motion controls it was twilight princess, was it what it was lauded to be, no, but it did a good job. Mario kart, super smash, and others not so much, but twilight felt good.

I didn't even attempt to play it on the Wii. I own one, but I got TP on GCN.