April 25, 2014

TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE = MORAL DOWNGRADE ?


The iPhone 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The iPad this and that. The Canon T3, T3i, T5i....blah blah bah.

It never ends.

There is always another version...another pinnacle of technological advancement that everyone wants to be associated with. I, like many, turn into a child whenever I open up a crisp new techie device and feel as though I have been given a ticket into a whole new digital landscape of possibility.

But at what cost?

I don't mean financially. I mean morally. 

You see, your last device gave you that excited feeling of infinite possibility and was the most exciting piece of tech you owned...until a few months or years later, when the 'new' one came out, leaving you back at square one, reaching, once again, for a bigger (or smaller), faster and better device. But did anything change about your previous device(s)? No. All that changed was your perceived techie needs.

You think to yourself in a winey, pleading tone "but the new one has a bit of a better camera and it runs faster and i've had mine for two years and..." and the list goes on. In the end, we cave, and we are back to square one in a month or a year's time.

As of today, my plan is nearing its end, my iPhone's home button is giving out on me, and I am having trouble finding a case for my model. My first thought was "the simple answer to this problem: just get a new one". But then there was another voice that decided to make itself heard. From the back of my psyche a thought stood up on its soap box and shouted in response to my first thought's apparent solution "THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION. THAT'S THE PROBLEM!". Suddenly, this was the only thought I could pay attention to.

You see, the second thought was right. The problem is the techie treadmill. We can't get off it. We think we are running towards something new, but really we are staying in the same place, counting the miles ran, rather than the distance traveled.

In short, my (stubborn and unruly)moral centre has decided to take the steering wheel from the part of my brain that blindly squeals "I want something shiny and new". I have decided to let my phone organically run its coarse. I will let it run itself into the ground, and the day it stops croaking, I will move on to another one. If it ain't broke don't fix it, right? I feel like this principle has been lost in recent years. Companies want to you to believe "even if it ain't broke, it could be better, so buy this product". But what's the result? Money wasted, resources waisted, a drawer with hordes of old, still function-able devices, and consumers failing to realize the never ending treadmill they are running on.

For once, I am going to take a step off of the treadmill and accept that there is nothing shiny and exciting about our perceived needs in the face of our consumerism reality.

Iphone 4. Till death do us part.

5 comments:

  1. This is really sweet. I have an old Kindle and refuse to get a touch screen one (not to mention that I can't stand touch screens and have no need of a new device). I like your insight. Personally being the environmental lover that I am...I don't like massive consumerism anyway. Thanks for sharing your ideas.

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  2. Your blog just answered my thought. Yes why do I need new phone just because it will be faster or better camera lenses. Your blog reminded me that it's ok to use my beloved old phone, nothing wrong with it and it works fine. Don't let those people tell me what I'm deserved. Thanks for sharing. :) BTW, love your youtube.

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  3. As a future electronic engineer, I myself, am not amused with the fast upgrade of cellphones and tabs. Every year apple creates another "Iphone 45678902022334" as well as samsung's "s2430940902" and then everywhere people will rage on "Ugh I am going to need to buy another but I don't need it and I hazzz no money" but in the end they still buy. Nothing's wrong with old phones or gadgets. They are not obsolete IMO, I just think that the technology is innovating toooooo fast. As long as it still function then I am going to keep it til it last XD I love your blog! I've read the other previous posts and also watched your videos and can I just say that you're a brilliant person with all your insights, thoughts and musings. <3

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  4. Hello! Sarah and I have nominated you for the Liebster Award! The post is on our blog and there are questions and things for you to fill out! We hope you participate and we really love your blog. Have a great day!

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  5. I seriously wished you'd post, then again it's been two years, so it's a little late to be wishing for that to happen :(.

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