When I was growing up our automobiles were connected directly to us and the road. Even fancy cars with this new fangled feature called "power steering" were still connected, just with a little hydraulic assist. And commercial aircraft were the same way. Pilots could "feel" the aircraft through its assortment of cables, pulleys, and rods.
Our stereo equipment was also physically connected: manual volume and balance controls, manual switching for inputs.
"Click, click, click."
Today's cars, planes, and stereo equipment drive, fly, and play by wire. Which means there's a complete disconnect between the end result and the physical controlling motions: your steering wheel and gas pedal are potentiometers. A pilot's stick and yoke are the same. And I bet there's not but a rare handful of stereo products with direct controls.
From electric toothbrushes, voice activated assistants, to computer generated films and characters we're rapidly disconnecting ourselves from the physical world.
You know what helps keep us grounded?
Music.
