Saturday, November 27, 2021
Planned Obsolescence is a concept with which many are not conscious but affects us all. How many times have you felt that the electrical appliances or for that matter any product that you use doesn’t last longer as it used to earlier? And this happens mostly with electronic appliances. New refrigerators, air conditioners, smart phones do not last as long as the old ones. And the companies knows when the product will die down, the user will buy a newer model.
Obsolescence comes from obsolete. When something is obsolete, it is no longer relevant, no longer used; it is out of date. The most common way for a product to become obsolete is for it to be replaced by something new, and this is where planned obsolescence comes in.
This concept is widely used by businesses to make you buy their products again and again. This can be done by intentionally using a part that they know will fail, or by bringing software updates which after some point become incompatible with your product. Think about your smartphone. It works fine; you can call, text, use a bunch of apps, but after numerous updates, you find that your smartphone can’t handle it all anymore. You may also find that the most recent software updates are no longer compatible with your phone. There is nothing for it other than to buy a new phone.
Marketing is another way by which the companies use the concept of planned obsolescence. It is no wonder that Apple launches a new product every year which is slightly better than the previous version, maybe the screen size is increased, or the camera is improves, or maybe there is a change in the position of camera. There is nothing wrong with the product per se, but companies know that the fear of missing out is strong and they try to exploit that.
Do you remember the times when you could remove the battery from a phone? You may still find such phones, probably the keypad ones, but it is difficult to find a smart phone in which you can remove the battery yourself and replace it yourself. You may find yourself needing special tools just to unscrew screws, making it hard for you to replace parts, and it can be even more difficult to repair devices. When it does come to finding a professional to repair the device for you, it can often be more cost-effective to replace the product entirely.
I still remember my school days when different students had different editions of the same book because some children used to buy the used books for a lower cost which cuts down profits for authors and publishers. Hence they used to come up with an improved version (nothing new in terms of the content though) every year.
“What’s new in this edition of the book?”, It comes with a new PREFACE.
“What else?“, Ummmmm…. The page numbers are changed!
“OKAY.”
We are slowly moving towards LED bulbs and into the realm of long-lasting bulbs but, did you know that old bulbs were originally long-lasting? The world's longest-lasting light bulb has been burning for nearly 120 years in California. Thomas Edison’s original light bulbs still illuminate a hundred years after they were made, but that is not profitable for modern-day manufacturers. By creating bulbs with a short lifespan, you have to keep coming back for more.
Th entire idea behind the concept is to drive the consumer economy and keep the money flowing. Although, planned obsolescence results in increased electronic waste, which is a threat for the climate. While there are proofs and evidences to proof, some still possess this notion that the idea of planned obsolescence is plain myth. There’s no direct evidence to proof it. What do you think?
Despite recycling efforts, an estimated 140 million cell phones — containing $60 million worth of precious metals — are dumped in US landfills annually.
See you next Saturday, until then have a great weekend :)
Cheers!
Some things that you may find interesting-
Article: Bitcoin's energy usage isn't a problem
Video: The Big Misconception About Electricity
Podcast: The One Percent Show - Saurabh Mukherjea
Song I am listening to: I Took a Pill in Ibizia by Mike Posner
Thought of the week: “It's ok to take a break > It's ok to jog when you can't find the energy to run, but don't quit. It might seem like the right thing to do today, it won't - in hindsight. Unless you have a fantastic plan for the remaining 60+ years of your life.”