21st Century vs. Pioneer

Have you ever wondered how we got all the gadgets, electronics, appliances and anything else that needs a manual to operate. In our house we now have 5 adults (two grown children, one child's spouse and us) I took a look around the other day and I found that we have 3 laptop computers, one desk top computer, 5 cellular phones (4 havng data capability),4 televisions with Direct TV, Dvr's, Dvd and blueray players, 2 Wii's, X-Box, 2 land phones, 2 refrigerators, 2 freezers, 2 washing machines, 2 dryers, 2 ovens, 1 microwave, 1 dishwasher and a whole buch of kitchen appliances I haven't even learned how to use yet! But let me tell you I like that rice cooker!
At any given moment all or most are in use! I have witnessed at one time all of us in one room and 2 are using their laptops, 1 is on their blackberry and the rest of us are either watching television or running upstairs to check their facebook page! I wonder how we got to this point.....and would we ever be able to go back to the pioneer days?

Deciding that we wanted to watch a movie downstairs but needed the blueray player.....unhook and move downstairs! We know how to do this...right?
I know how to do this!

Moved downstairs....plugging it back in!

Evidence of way too many gadgets!

Evidence of multitasking...movie and wireless internet.

I ask how did we get to this point and how do we get back!