The boom in technological innovation and the availability of technology to the masses led to something of a throw away society, where electronic goods were binned and replaced with the newest models. Following several environmental awareness campaigns, the realities of the waste and pollution caused by these gadget mountains began to force changes in the law. Recycling the component parts and base materials used in tech items became more common, but the market for new tech just keeps on growing. The question is, do you really need to replace your equipment as often as you do?
New and shiny
When it comes to tech, grown men and women can become like children, having to have the newest, shiniest toy on the market. If you examine things rationally, the phone you were using five years ago would be perfectly adequate for the things you do now, but you’ve probably had three or four upgrades in the intervening years. It’s a bit like the car market. No-one really needs a Ferrari or an Aston Martin (with the possible exception of James Bond), but they are status symbols that declare to the world you are an elite member of society. They’re also very lovely, and fine pieces of automotive engineering; so the desire to have a car like that runs very deep through societies worldwide.
Retaining and reusing
If you can resist the lure of the new, and you don’t need the extra bells and whistles of the newest models, then your gadgets should last a good few years with a bit of care and attention. One of the effects of the throw away mentality is the attitude that gadgets don’t need to be well-cared for, as they will be replaced soon enough anyway. But if they are looked after there’s no reason why they shouldn’t last much longer. For example, rather than chucking your PS4 away when it starts making a wheezing sound, it’s easy enough to follow online directions for how to clean PS4 fans. A few minutes work, and your PlayStation is as good as new. Phones and tablets can have a very long lifespan, and there is now a thriving market in reconditioned models. You can get a fully functional iPhone for example, in excellent condition, for a fraction of what it would have cost new.
There are some limitations
Every technological advancement and innovative piece of equipment is subject to unforeseen changes that can affect ongoing operation. Some technologies simply wither and die, while others change to the point where related gadgets become inoperable. You are also at the mercy of the manufacturer’s upgrades policy. If they decide to stop supporting the version you have, there is little you can do about it. This happened with Nook e-readers recently, when support was switched off, leaving many people unable to access their content. So however green you’d like to be, it’s not always down to you.
As far as it’s possible, then retaining and looking after your tech is a great thing to do – and in some cases you might find the value increases if you hang on to something long enough!
