Long before the Computer Age, machines like the one pictured here (invented 1804) were arguably the first programmable devices (the "program" is encoded on the punched cards). This machine threatened the livelihoods of traditional artisans, prompting a counter-movement whose name is still used today with a broader meaning of opposition to technology.
What type of machine is it? (By its "Fruit" you may know it.)
Solution
It's a loom (specifically, a Jacquard loom). The counter-movement referenced in the question is Luddism, and the parenthetical at the end was a sly nod to Fruit of the Loom (a brand of underwear). But I appreciate Inca's answer of Jacquard + fruit = jackfruit.
Congratulations to yesterday's winners Ian, Inca, Yana, Charlie, Joshua Z., Jessica, Leo S., Ena, Connor, Atticus, Kate, Mr. Gregg, and Dr. Yetman. Thanks to everybody who made a guess!
Though he now teaches mathematics, Dr. (né Mr.) Shapiro's first job in a K–12 school was as a lunch monitor in Davis, CA. It was there that he originated the Puzzle of the Day, even rewarding correct answers with tickets in denominations like "15 points" (though without a clear idea of how he'd ultimately redeem these). Dr. Shapiro's favorite puzzle from this pre-professional era was "Tell me the location of the beehive on this campus."
Ten years later, Dr. Shapiro revived Puzzle of the Day at Proof School, writing each day's puzzle on a name tag. After 600 puzzles or so, he was just starting to feel normal about students reading his chest all the time when campus closed and the puzzle, like the rest of our lives, moved online. New puzzles are posted daily on school days.
Want to catch up on old PotDs? There's an archive currently containing puzzles from March to December 2020.