Whether you see technological advancement as a source of progress, or as a force that complicates a good life.
What the two poles mean
Techno-optimism
A score toward 0 means you lean strongly toward techno-optimism. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
Simplicity
A score toward 100 means you lean strongly toward simplicity. On this axis, positions near this pole reflect the priorities described above.
A common misconception
A simplicity-leaning score is not technophobia. It reflects concern about what constant acceleration does to human life, attention and community.
People who score high on "simplicity" rarely oppose technology outright. They usually use phones, the internet and modern medicine like everyone else. Their score reflects a worry that relentless innovation — social media, automation, constant connectivity — can erode attention spans, deepen inequality and weaken local life. This is a judgment about priorities, not a rejection of progress.
Conversely, a techno-optimism score is not naive faith that every innovation helps. It usually reflects a belief that past technological change has on balance improved life, and that the right response to new problems is more and better innovation rather than slowing down.
How it relates to the other axes
Technology often moves together with science, and usually against tradition and stability.
Where you stand
Find out where you stand on this axis — and the other 15 — by taking the 16 Values Test. It is free, anonymous and takes about five minutes.