Final answer:
The short story 'The Machine Stops' mirrors technologies from the Industrial Revolution, such as automated systems, and prefigures modern concepts like virtual reality, highlighting themes of dependency on technology and the potential loss of human connection.
Step-by-step explanation:
The short story The Machine Stops by E.M. Forster reflects a variety of technologies that parallel the advancements during the Industrial Revolution. In the story, we see a world where individuals live in isolated cells, dependent on a vast and complex machine for all their needs. Some technologies depicted include instant messaging, video conferencing, and automated systems for basic necessities, all of which are reminiscent of the advances made with mechanical manufacturing, the rise of the steam engine, and automatic machinery for creating textiles back in the Industrial Revolution era. Forster's vision in The Machine Stops can also be seen as a precursor to modern-day concepts such as virtual reality and artificial intelligence, raising questions about the role of technology in society and the potential loss of human connection and autonomy.