Part of the attraction of owning new gadgets and technology is their exclusivity, it has been suggested.
According to Stuff magazine, being the first to purchase a groundbreaking piece of kit gives consumers a buzz that makes working seem worthwhile.
In the latest edition of the publication, editor Fraser Macdonald asks whether we would "be happy in a moneyless, leisure-oriented utopia".
"Working takes up too much playing time, and doesn't earn us enough money to buy all the things we want to play with," he posed.
However, Mr Macdonald countered this argument by saying that if everyone had the same technology then it wouldn't feel so special.
The expert suggested that it is the rarity of owning new products like Sky 3D that makes them desirable.
Articles in the latest issue of the magazine include Live For Free, which acts as a guide to a tech freeloader's day.
The magazine's website recently published a feature on the new iPhone 4, which is due for launch later this month.
Posted by Annah Lansdown