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Enforced Technology Levels: Difference between revisions
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When magic is involved, this might delve into a [[The Magic Versus Technology War|Magic Versus Technology War]] (since areas where magic works may not allow technology to work, and vice versa). For a rather specific example (when it's played literally), see [[Medieval Stasis]]. Compare with [[Schizo-Tech]], where differing levels of technology are all mashed up together. Compare [[Decade Dissonance]], when this sort of things arises naturally, not due to any enforcement. See also [[You Are Not Ready]], which might be the justification for keeping certain areas at a lower tech level.
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== Fan Fiction ==
* Some ''[[Harry Potter]]'' fanfiction postulates that modern technology is discouraged or outright ''banned'' in the Wizarding World. In some stories, this goes as far as saying that using a gun is considered a ''worse'' crime than using an Unforgiveable Curse.
== Film ==
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* In ''[[Harry Potter]]'', magical spells can prevent certain technologies from functioning. On Hogwarts school grounds, things like guns, automobiles, or anything elecronic simply won't work. Also, it's against the rules to enchant high-tech items.
* In the [[Old Kingdom]] series, technology or anything ''made'' with technology rapidly degrades into ruin in the Old Kingdom. There was one guy whose outsider pen pal always uses machine-made paper, turning every letter he sends into an annoying exercise in forensic science. This is because most technology fails in the presence of magic (this also means that the Perimeter Guards are armed with both guns and swords, because any magical creature that gets close enough will make their guns fail).
* The ''[[Well World]]'' novels (two series, by [[Jack L Chalker]]) take place on an artificial planet divided into hexagonal territories. The creators of the Well World set up each hexagon to be home to and a test bed for a different prototype intelligent species, prior to transferring these new races to various uninhabited planets. Thus, each hexagon re-creates the environment to which the new-made species is intended to be moved, once it's been tested. As some of their intended destinations were lacking in metals or other materials needed for technological advancement, the hexagons where those planet's future inhabitants were tested had to be designed to prevent technology from working there: if the trial groups couldn't survive by low-tech methods, then they would need more tinkering before they could be shipped out to their new worlds.
** As the Well World's creators had the means to re-write the laws of physics as they saw fit, it was easy for them to invoke this trope on designated low-tech hexes, with tech-failure kicking in at whatever point seemed appropriate to the destination planet (Stone Age, Iron Age, Clockwork, etc).
*** Originally, there was no movement allowed between hexes, however since the Markovians left the barriers (mostly) went down
* The [[Path of Inspiration|Church of God Awaiting]] in ''[[Safehold]]'' enforces [[Medieval Stasis]] through the Inquisition and the Proscriptions of Jwo-Jeng.
** It is also enforced, though the citizens of Safehold don't know it, by orbital platforms that, if they detect strong enough power sources, will unleash a [[Kinetic Weapons Are Just Better|kinetic bombardment]] capable of devastating a small continent.
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* One episode of ''[[Farscape]]'' featured a planet where most advanced technology was rendered useless by a power-draining machine, set up to keep the colonists beholden to their original masters. Much awkwardness results when it turns out that [[The Napoleon|Rygel]] is a descendant of said masters.
* [[Reality TV]] shows often will ban certain items (such as cell phones or computers) during the course of the show. Ostensibly it'll be to encourage teamwork and communication, as well as to make sure the contestants aren't distracted by the outside world, but in reality it's most likely to increase the drama.
** ''[[Survivor (TV series)|Survivor]]'' is a particularly extreme case, as the contestants are placed on a "deserted" island and must live without basic amenities.
** There's also a whole subgenre of reality shows dedicated to historical re-enacments; shows like these would obviously prohibit contestants from using technology that wasn't available to the time they're re-enacting.
* ''[[Firefly]]'' all but outright states that this is happening in the Rim and Border worlds, with the Alliance deliberately keeping the formerly independent worlds at a lower tech level than the Core worlds to keep them subjugated after the Unification War ended. At least one Border world baron has access to enough money and technology that he could easily build a modern city but keeps everyone at pre-1900's tech because he wants to be the one with the hovercar and handheld lasers while everyone else rides around on horses.
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== Tabletop Games ==
* In the ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' expanded second edition
* Gamescience's ''Superhero 2044''. In the standard campaign setting, the World Council of Peace's Science Police is devoted to ensuring world peace. They control the creation of new inventions and confiscate any devices that could lead to another World War, including weapons of mass destruction.
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