Analog in the Age of Consumerism

We live in a throwaway culture. Most modern consumer gadgets are designed with planned obsolescence baked in, and to tie users into a pre-planned upgrade cycle. Long gone are the days when devices were made to last for generations, when quality and repairability were highly prioritized. The majority of modern gadgets are designed to fail, or to be replaced in a time and manner dictated by the manufacturer. These oppressive upgrade cycles are not restricted to hardware, as they include drivers and operating systems.

For example, below is the support cycle of all versions of the Microsoft Windows operating systems:

Have you wondered what happens to the millions of computers which suddenly become unsupported? What happens to these devices and PCs running operating systems with hardware that Microsoft considers antiquated? Why, of course they end up in your closets, in landfills and disposal sites all over the world, especially in the so-called third world nations. Here are some astounding metrics. According to the United Nation Institute of Training and Research {UNITAR}, in 2022 alone, a staggering 62 million metric tons of electronic waste was generated worldwide. This includes waste from computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices. This is the equivalent of stacking up about 15,000 Eiffel Towers together, or 100 Empire State Buildings, entirely made of electronic waste! To put this in context, the volume of e-waste has nearly doubled since 2010 and is projected to continue rising, potentially reaching 82 million metric tons by 2030. It's a significant challenge, as less than a quarter of this e-waste was properly collected and recycled. 

We are in an impending global environmental crisis, and it is mostly driven by greed, disguised as capitalism and innovation. In the name of progress, we condemn perfectly working devices to oblivion. Gone are the days when one could swap out parts such as batteries on a whim. These days, instead of replacing a phone battery after its useful life, you will have little choice but to replace the entire phone. This culture of consumerism is driven in my opinion by technological giants, often disguised as heroes of the modern digital revolution. When it comes to sustainability, the modern giants of technology seem rudderless, unhinged and unmoored by greed and capitalism. One such giant is Apple.

Apple’s wildly popular iPhone was hailed as a technological marvel when it was first released in 2007, but like the famed trojan horse, it bore some nasty surprises and dealt a deathly blow to the “Right to Repair” movement. Apple’s design philosophy manifests in two ways that are detrimental to the repairability of their devices. The first is the complexity of their designs, with inaccessible components often tightly sealed into their sleekly designed aesthetic. Secondly, Apple uses a system called part pairing, where certain components (like the display and logic board) are linked to each other. If a repair involves replacing one of these components, the new part must be paired with the existing hardware, which can only be done by Apple or authorized service providers. With their wild success and lead in innovation, the rest of the industry followed blindly, copying off what they saw as Apple’s recipe for success. It wasn’t long before the majority of smartphones took on the iPhone’s aesthetic.

This culture of consumerism is so pervasive and poses serious risk to our future on this planet. Earth cannot simply sustain the level of use and abuse of its resources. The rare earth elements that our modern “energy efficient” devices depend on are indeed rare, and the acquisition of them have spawned many conflicts in impoverished countries and threaten more in the future. Unbridled consumerism is directly in opposition to the environmental stewardship preached by many of the technology companies. This sleight of hand and tone deafness practiced by modern tech companies can no longer be celebrated nor ignored. There is a need for a shift in our thinking and in our mindset on what we consider as environmentally friendly.

A Call to Action

This is what YOU can do.

1.       Thrift more. Thrifting is one such practice that I fully engage in and highly recommend, to counter this excessive consumerism. Paired with the practice of reconditioning, repurposing and salvaging thrifted things, this hobby is in my opinion the future of sustainable living, a glimmer of hope in a world that is in desperate need of change.

By thrifting more, you are not just living a more sustainable lifestyle, you also make a fashion statement while doing it!
2.       Invest in analog things. Why? Because most analog devices (especially vintage ones) do not rely on software upgrades to operate, and are made to last for generations. These devices, ranging from film cameras to old vintage audio-visual devices like CRT televisions, cassettes and vinyl are seeing a resurgence and renewed interest, thanks to the curiosity of a new generation who have become quite disillusioned with the seemingly uninspired and repetitive nature of digital technologies. Analog devices are easier to repair with the right know-how and equipment. Vintage analog devices can also easily be configured to run with modern systems, as I showcased recently when I created a connected on-air broadcast system in my home to broadcast streaming media to all my CRT televisions.

3. Support the culture. From content creators like me who advocate for sustainable use of technology to your local repair shop, there are diverse ways in which you can plug into the culture,

In conclusion, a significant change in our mindset as a collective is needed to counter this age of consumerism. Let us not wait until resources become scarce or non-existent before we change our lifestyles to favour this beautiful planet that we have been entrusted as stewards. We all have a part to play in this, and it starts with a renewed appreciation for the sustainable technologies, especially analog technologies.

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