Is there any muggle technology that is used in Harry Potter's world?

manpreet Best Answer 2 years ago

In Harry Potter's universe, much magic is involved in daily activities, ranging from a simple one used for cleaning to a very advanced one like creating a Horcrux. There are also muggles in this world. They can't use magic, but do have science/advanced technology.

My question:
Are there any muggle only science/technology things that are used by the magical society? And why they use/not use it?

Note:
Because this is Movies StackExchange, I prefer answers based on the movie. If you'd like to add the one from books, well go on.

manpreet 2 years ago

This is a community wiki post. Please feel free to add directly within this answer. If you can think of a technology to add, please do so at your leisure.

I'll interpret your phrase "muggle only technology" as something developed by muggles that came to be useful also by wizards.

There are probably very many, but I will start this off by mentioning some. Others are welcome to post here in order to make this a more complete answer:

• The Hogwarts Express is a steam engine train. I am thinking that if it were driven by magic, then the steam would be unnecessary.

• Mr. Weasley's car came in very handy. Other wizards have used cars, and there is also the Knight Bus.

• The members of Dumbledore's Army were using a radio transmitter and radio receivers to communicate without the Death Eater's catching them.

• Watches - Harry broke his during the second Triwizard trial. For a while afterwards, he kept wearing it out of habit so we can assume that telling time isn't naturally a wizardy thing.

• Cameras - Colin Creevey and various members of the daily prophet use cameras though they develop the film in a special potion.

• Medicines - In Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them, Newt mentions that wizard anatomy is subtly different from no-majes', so the venom of a beast which bit Jacob affected him more strongly than it might have any other wizard. As magic-use is activated at the gene-level, perhaps there's a natural resistance to some magical materials like the venom of this creature, much like how Hagrid can resist many offensive spells due to his half-giant lineage.

• Indoor plumbing - Multiple movies have shots inside of bathrooms. You can clearly see toilets and sinks that appear to be porcelain.

• Hagrid rides an enchanted flying motorcycle in two of the films.

• Spectacles - Harry Potter wears those glasses in all movies

• Locks - Most of the locks in the books are accessed by normal keys, even Moody's seven compartment magical trunk has seven keys to open its seven locks.
• Elevators - Tn The Deathly Hallows Part I, the Ministry of Magic is shown to have elevators (although it's quite possible that the actual movement is supplied magically).