Exploratory Research Paper
Gabriel Salgado
Prof. Michael Sohan
ENC1102-U65
30 January 2017
Exploratory Essay Draft Today’s technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. However, as tech focused companies continue to profit and expand, their emphasis on innovation for the masses diminishes. Manufacturers are expected to release one or more new flagship products every year, in turn implicating an incentive to place aside supporting older generations in favor of quarterly profits. Planned obsolescence is the idea of a consumer product being purposely made with the intent of being replaced and becoming obsolete. Ultimately, my question would be whether planned obsolescence is a necessary step in the advancement of technology. While researching the topic of obsolescence …show more content…
Lawlor brings up a different perspective I did not previously see of finding ways to ‘delay’ this cycle of obsolescence. He points out in his paper that, “If obsolescence is inevitable, then we would just be adding to the problem if we built things to last (Lawlor 2014, p. 405).” This is not to say that goods should be made poorly such that no one would want to buy them. Instead, Lawlor implies that products should in fact be made with the foresight of obsolescence. However, there is a fine line between companies making a product good enough for consumers to buy and intentionally leaving room for …show more content…
I found groups such as, the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER), which was directly concentrated on the issue of waste caused by technology. With “More than 140 companies and supporting members” I gathered that there was a strong sense of urgency and support for this issue. The CAER works to push legislation in the United States for recycling policies which would require “domestic recycling of untested, nonworking e-waste.” This more pragmatic approach, saw the problem of electronic waste from the standpoint of safety and security yet required for the government to act before anything could be
Prof. Michael Sohan
ENC1102-U65
30 January 2017
Exploratory Essay Draft Today’s technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. However, as tech focused companies continue to profit and expand, their emphasis on innovation for the masses diminishes. Manufacturers are expected to release one or more new flagship products every year, in turn implicating an incentive to place aside supporting older generations in favor of quarterly profits. Planned obsolescence is the idea of a consumer product being purposely made with the intent of being replaced and becoming obsolete. Ultimately, my question would be whether planned obsolescence is a necessary step in the advancement of technology. While researching the topic of obsolescence …show more content…
Lawlor brings up a different perspective I did not previously see of finding ways to ‘delay’ this cycle of obsolescence. He points out in his paper that, “If obsolescence is inevitable, then we would just be adding to the problem if we built things to last (Lawlor 2014, p. 405).” This is not to say that goods should be made poorly such that no one would want to buy them. Instead, Lawlor implies that products should in fact be made with the foresight of obsolescence. However, there is a fine line between companies making a product good enough for consumers to buy and intentionally leaving room for …show more content…
I found groups such as, the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling (CAER), which was directly concentrated on the issue of waste caused by technology. With “More than 140 companies and supporting members” I gathered that there was a strong sense of urgency and support for this issue. The CAER works to push legislation in the United States for recycling policies which would require “domestic recycling of untested, nonworking e-waste.” This more pragmatic approach, saw the problem of electronic waste from the standpoint of safety and security yet required for the government to act before anything could be