Before World War I, people did not have a lot of "stuff." They would buy only what they need, such as food and shelter. But after the Roaring 20's, technological advancements began to lift off. More and more people would begin to buy things that they no longer need, but what they want. People would invest in cars, televisions, and radios and other new inventions. Now, the technology that was once something only the wealthy could afford, is a basic necessity for many individuals. While it is not a necessity for life, as cavemen could live without it, if all technology was taken away now, the world would become an inferno.