Planned Obsolescence: Technology's Paradox (Article in Progress)

Planned Obsolescence: Technology's Paradox

On display at the Living with Nature Center

San Vicente, Ilocos Sur

"Our whole economy is based on planned obsolescence...we make good products, we induce people to buy them, and then the next year we deliberately introduce something that will make these products old-fashioned, out of date, obsolete." - Brooks Stevens, Years, People, Next Year

Dr Abe V Rotor

1. Plumbing Obsolescence

 Unserviceable plumbing items is "big money and waste." 

 

"Waste, waste, waste everywhere!"

  once useful, handy in our home

  likened to "Water, water, everywhere, 

  but not a drop to drink"* syndrome. - avr

*From Samuel Taylor Coleridge's poem, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

2. Keys and Locks - security turned oblivion

Closeup of obsolete locks and keys 

3. Aborted Pens and Pencils

Aborted and spent ball pens, marker pens and pencil stubs constitute

a major waste in offices, homes and schools. 

4. We are living in a plastic world

   

"Plastic, Plastics - and more, Plastics." 

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* Planned obsolescence is a business strategy where products are intentionally designed with a limited, functional lifespan or rendered unfashionable, forcing consumers to purchase replacements sooner.