The Machine Stops (1909) is a science fiction short
story written by E.M. Forster

it tells of a world where humans had come to depend on
a global network of devices called The Machine

The Machine met all of man's physical, emotional and
spiritual needs

over the generations, men and women had become
progressively more interested in and involved with
The Machine; and less so with each other

almost everyone had come to live underground,
in single-person dwellings;

there was no need to leave one's room; and there was
little desire to do so

in time, access to the surface of the earth was lost;
and few were concerned

The Machine, after all, was there to nourish, protect
and delight

in time, men lost the knowledge that they had created
The Machine, which had come to be worshiped as a
benevolent Deity

at some point, there began a series disruptions in the
services provided by The Machine - it was beginning
to collapse

mankind, however, could not conceive that The Machine
was anything but omnipotent and eternal

and even if it were understood that The Machine was
a device that required repair, the knowledge to do so
had long since been lost

eventually, The Machine stops - stops permanently;
and most of humanity perishes

                         *      *      *      *

does any of this sound familiar?