A comprehensive model adding two further dimensions for deeper analysis. Axis 1: Hard-Soft (physical vs. informational). Axis 2: Consumer-Industrial (individual vs. systemic). Axis 3: Enabling-Replacing (augment vs. substitute). Axis 4: Transparent-Opaque (understandable vs. black box). Axis 5: Centralized-Distributed (controlled by few vs. accessible to many). Axis 6: Sustainable-Exploitative (regenerative vs. extractive). These six axes generate sixty-four technology-types. Blockchain is soft, consumer-industrial hybrid, enabling (in theory), opaque, distributed, exploitative (energy). Solar panels are hard, consumer-industrial, enabling, transparent, distributed, sustainable. Smartphones span nearly every axis depending on use. The 6 Axes reveal that technological impact isn't intrinsic—it's a function of position across multiple dimensions.
The 6 Axes of the Technology Spectrum "You think technology is neutral? The 6 Axes show otherwise: a technology's position on centralized-distributed and sustainable-exploitative axes determines its politics. Coal is hard, industrial, replacing, opaque, centralized, exploitative. That's not neutral—that's a political position built into the technology itself."
by Dumu The Void February 25, 2026
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