1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,480 The Amish, simple people work in the land, 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:08,800 a way of life that eschews the vain luxuries of modern technology, or does it? 3 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:14,280 We tend to think of the Amish and Mennonites as if they haven't changed at all in the past centuries, 4 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:20,760 but the reality is a lot more complicated. The Amish don't advocate the refusal of all technology. 5 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:25,720 More so, Amish culture generally supports a mindful approach of gradual adoption 6 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,000 based on principles of simplicity and practicality. 7 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:34,560 This means that a huge loophole exists for technologies that are primarily work-related. 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:38,120 Each community votes on its own rules, which can vary a lot from group to group, 9 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,280 but in some cases, they're allowed to use computers and even cell phones so long as they are kept 10 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:48,000 outside the home and are never flaunted. A small number of Amish began adopting computers 11 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:52,880 soon after they first became available to the mass consumer market in the mid 1970s. 12 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:58,160 A particular favorite was the word processor, then a type of hardware rather than software. 13 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:03,120 These were essentially electric typewriters and are hard to view as decadent or frivolous, 14 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:08,680 but as personal computers became more powerful, do-it-all machines and began to incorporate elements 15 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,680 for personal entertainment like music and games, 16 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:16,080 standalone office devices like the word processor plummeted in popularity. 17 00:01:16,080 --> 00:01:19,920 By the late 1990s, most computer companies no longer manufactured them, 18 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:26,040 leaving the Amish without options. Enter Alan Hoover, an old order horse and buggy Mennonite 19 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,720 who worked with computer scientists and Amish leaders to build a computer that suited the needs 20 00:01:30,720 --> 00:01:35,720 of Amish farms and businesses. But what does an Amish computer even look like? 21 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:40,600 The first computer made specifically for the plain people by the plain people 22 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:43,960 was the 2005 classic word processor, 23 00:01:43,960 --> 00:01:48,120 an ad for which promised no modem, no phone port or internet connection, 24 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,560 no outside programs, no sound, no pictures, no games, no gimmicks, not even solitaire. 25 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:59,440 That sinister succubus of workday distraction. A big focus is on what features the classic didn't have, 26 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:03,680 but it did have a built-in keyboard and fold down eight inch full color screen, 27 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:08,720 as well as USB ports for file sharing and optional peripherals like a printer or a mouse. 28 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:13,240 The Amish typically avoid connecting to the power grid instead relying on pneumatic tools 29 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:18,040 or locally generated power by a diesel generators, water wheels or solar panels. 30 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:21,600 So the classic uses a battery rather than a wall plug. 31 00:02:21,600 --> 00:02:24,840 In order to remove as many connected features as possible, 32 00:02:24,840 --> 00:02:30,200 Hoover preloaded the computer with open source programs and then locked it from any further installation. 33 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:34,640 Among its features, the classic proudly counts its complete incompatibility 34 00:02:34,640 --> 00:02:38,700 with all Microsoft computer programs. That's right, the Amish have computers 35 00:02:38,700 --> 00:02:43,440 and they're using Linux. All this for the low cost of $798, 36 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:48,800 a fairly standard price for a low end computer of the era, albeit one that functions roughly like a PC 37 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:54,720 from five years prior, according to Hoover. Turns out that some customers are willing to pay a premium 38 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:58,320 for a computer that doesn't come packed with a bunch of nonsense features they don't want 39 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:03,880 and the sinful touch of Bill Gates. Further, these devices were incredibly durable and secure. 40 00:03:03,880 --> 00:03:07,560 You might not be able to run Doom on it, but you won't have to replace it in four years either. 41 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,240 An ad for an updated version of the classic lists a 12 inch display, 42 00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:17,760 dual core three gigahertz processor, four gigabytes of RAM and a 500 Gigabyte hard drive in 2014. 43 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:22,200 By then the classic had several competitors, including The Guardian, The Pioneer, 44 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:27,680 The Pleasant and The Plain Book, a laptop with no video, sound, internet or games. 45 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:32,440 But it does have a typing tutor, quick books, Microsoft Office, full facts functionality, 46 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,800 a PDF reader and a Bible reader and search program. 47 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:40,040 These plain computers aren't competing primarily based on power performance. 48 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,600 They're competing based on functionality, reliability 49 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,800 and compliance with the guidance of Amish bishops. 50 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:51,760 The key word here is trustworthiness. A modern version of the classic currently advertised 51 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:56,200 by the Plain Community's Business Exchange is the classic steward word processor, 52 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:02,040 which comes with a Linux based operating system, eight gigabytes of RAM, 120 Gigabyte solid state drive, 53 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:05,600 a 4.1 gigahertz processor and a copy of Libra Office 54 00:04:05,600 --> 00:04:08,640 from 2017, perfect for inventorying your chickens. 55 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,120 As most businesses have become increasingly online, Amish business owners have had to follow suit, 56 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:18,620 adopting the internet in small measured ways. Some use a PC free email service 57 00:04:18,620 --> 00:04:22,740 that allows them to receive emails in the form of a printout on their fax machine. 58 00:04:22,740 --> 00:04:25,820 And when they wanna answer an email, they just fax right back. 59 00:04:25,820 --> 00:04:28,820 A similar service even allows Amish to send faxes 60 00:04:28,820 --> 00:04:32,220 to request a basic internet search. One sec, I gotta send out a fax 61 00:04:32,220 --> 00:04:35,820 for hot singles in my area. Incidentally, you can't buy the classic 62 00:04:35,820 --> 00:04:39,620 or most other plain computers on the internet. You have to call the dealer. 63 00:04:39,620 --> 00:04:43,420 Sorry, Amazon. So thanks for watching guys. If you liked this video, hit like, hit subscribe 64 00:04:43,420 --> 00:04:46,500 and hit us up in the comments, maybe letting us know what everyday technology 65 00:04:46,500 --> 00:04:49,140 you'd prefer to live without and don't say tech wiki.