I woke up to my alarm buzzing, the shrill sound echoing in the small room. Today was supposed to be a normal day, just like any other. As a plumber, I was supposed to go to work, fix some pipes, and come back home. But as I picked up my phone to silence the alarm, I saw the notification. VIIZR – the app that had been my lifeline, my connection to my customers – was no more. Ford had shut it down. And just like that, my life was about to take a turn for the chaotic.

I couldn’t believe it. VIIZR had been my go-to tool for managing my plumbing business. It allowed me to schedule appointments, send invoices, and keep track of my customers. Without it, I was lost. How was I supposed to manage my workload now? How would I find new customers? Panic set in as I realized the full extent of the situation.

I quickly got dressed and rushed to my van, hoping that maybe it was all just a mistake. But as I turned on the engine and tried to open the VIIZR app, I was met with an error message. It was true. VIIZR was gone. And with it, my livelihood.

I spent the rest of the day in a daze, trying to figure out what to do next. I called some of my regular customers, hoping to explain the situation and find a way to continue working. But without the convenience of the app, it was difficult to coordinate schedules and keep track of everything. It was like going back in time, to a time when everything was done with pen and paper.

As the days turned into weeks, it became clear that the shutdown of VIIZR was not an isolated incident. Thousands of tradespeople like me were left in chaos, scrambling to find a way to continue their businesses. The world had become so dependent on technology that we had forgotten the value of our skills. And now, we were paying the price.

The Forgotten

The world around me seemed to crumble under the weight of its own dependence on technology. People were lost without their apps and devices, unable to function without the convenience they had grown accustomed to. But amidst the chaos, a new sense of unity began to emerge among the tradespeople.

We realized that we were not alone in our struggle. Plumbers, locksmiths, electricians, and others came together, sharing stories of how the shutdown had affected their lives. We formed support groups, offering each other advice and encouragement. It was a small glimmer of hope in a world that seemed to have forgotten about us.

But as we fought to restore balance and find a way to continue our trades, we uncovered something sinister. There was more to the shutdown of VIIZR than met the eye. It wasn’t just a lack of customer demand or prioritizing other software. There was a hidden agenda, a plot to keep us disconnected and powerless.

We began to dig deeper, searching for answers. And what we found was shocking. Ford, the company behind the shutdown, had been working on a new technology that would render tradespeople obsolete. They saw us as a threat, as a reminder of a time when skills and craftsmanship were valued. And they wanted to eliminate that reminder.

But we weren’t going down without a fight. We rallied together, determined to expose Ford’s true intentions and restore the balance that had been lost. We knew it wouldn’t be easy. Ford was a powerful corporation, with resources and influence that far surpassed our own. But we had something they didn’t – the strength of our skills and the determination to fight for what was right.

The Resistance

As the leader of the resistance, I found myself thrust into a role I never expected. I had always been a plumber, content to work behind the scenes and fix things. But now, I had to step up and become a voice for the tradespeople. I had to inspire them, to give them hope in a world that seemed to have turned its back on us.

We organized protests and demonstrations, demanding answers from Ford. We reached out to the media, hoping to shed light on the injustice we were facing. And slowly, our message began to spread. People started to listen, to question the role of technology in their lives. They realized that there was value in the skills of tradespeople, that we were not just replaceable cogs in a machine.

But Ford wasn’t going to give up without a fight. They used their influence to discredit us, to paint us as outdated and unnecessary. They launched a smear campaign, spreading lies and misinformation about the resistance. They tried to divide us, to make us doubt ourselves and our cause.

But we stood strong. We knew the truth, and we refused to let Ford’s tactics break us. We continued to fight, to rally the support of the people. And slowly, the tide began to turn. People started to see through Ford’s lies, to question the role of technology in their lives. They realized that there was value in the skills of tradespeople, that we were not just replaceable cogs in a machine.

The Final Battle

The final battle was upon us. We had gathered enough evidence to expose Ford’s true intentions, to reveal the sinister plot behind the shutdown of VIIZR. We knew that this was our last chance to restore balance, to prove that the skills of tradespeople were invaluable.

We organized a massive protest outside Ford’s headquarters, demanding answers and justice. Thousands of tradespeople and their supporters gathered, holding signs and chanting slogans. The atmosphere was electric, filled with a sense of determination and hope.

As we marched towards the entrance of the building, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of fear and excitement. This was it. This was the moment we had been fighting for. We were about to confront the very company that had tried to silence us, to erase our existence.

But as we reached the entrance, we were met with resistance. Ford had hired a private security force to protect their headquarters, to prevent us from entering. They stood in our way, blocking our path with their imposing presence.

But we didn’t back down. We pushed forward, refusing to be intimidated. The clash was inevitable, and it was a battle of wills. We fought with everything we had, using our skills and determination to overcome the obstacles in our path.

And in the end, we emerged victorious. We exposed Ford’s true intentions, revealing the sinister plot behind the shutdown of VIIZR. The world watched in shock as the truth came to light, as the power of the tradespeople was recognized and celebrated.

From that day forward, things began to change. Society started to value the skills of tradespeople once again, realizing that technology was not the answer to everything. We rebuilt our businesses, stronger and more resilient than ever before.

And as for me, I returned to my plumbing work with a renewed sense of purpose. I knew that my skills were valuable, that I had a place in this world. And I vowed to never let anyone forget the importance of the trades.

Disconnected: A Tale of Tech and Trades was a reminder that sometimes, the simplest things in life are the most valuable. And that no matter how much technology may advance, there will always be a need for the skills and craftsmanship of tradespeople.

The Source

This small novel was automatically created by processing the news article “Ford shutters company building an app for plumbers, electricians and other trades” published by TechCrunch. This novel is generated using a collection of recipes, generative AI, and the touch of a human (when time allows).

This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the Generative AI algorithm “imagination” or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.