My cell phone is something that I use daily. The alarm wakes me up in the morning, the note pad helps me with my grocery list, the message feature allows me to text family and friends, the address book contains my key contacts, and the call feature keeps me safe in emergencies. To me, my cell phone is a tool for the job. I would never consider waxing poetic about my attachment to an inanimate object. Yet, here I am quietly reflecting on the significance of having a cell phone in my life.

In the early days of owning one I discovered that I would have to adopt new habits. I bought a Bluetooth so I could use my phone hands free, I bought a car charger so the battery wouldn’t die while I was on the road, I even started choosing purses that had a special pocket for cell phones. My cell phone was now my constant companion.

For the longest time, I continued a daily relationship with my cell phone and life was good. Then it began…more advanced cell phones were being released to the public; I started receiving messages from my service provider that I qualified for an upgraded model; my friends started trading in their old ones for newer models even though the older models still worked. I was surrounded by pressure to upgrade yet I stubbornly clung to my old device. When the phone began to fail, the time for a replacement was upon me. The coincidental circumstances of my phone failing about the same time that my contract was up for renewal were not lost on me. I remember being irritated and thinking that the phone’s failure was by design.

After much research, deliberation, and soul searching, I chose a newer version of the model I had even though it was considered antiquated by industry standards. I stubbornly stuck to my decision to keep a similar model for several reasons. Firstly, I was familiar with the features and functionality; secondly, it felt a little like betrayal of an old friend to switch to something completely different; and finally, I resented the implication of being relegated to a lower social status if I didn’t choose a more recent model.

My decision to stick with a similar model probably says a lot about who I am. I am cautious of untested technology, I am loyal, and I’m a bit rebellious. I had decided that I was not going to jump into technology that I did not understand and I was certainly not interested in abandoning a tried and true model for a fancier and flashier one because I equated choosing a newer model with abandoning old friends for a new boyfriend – that is where the loyalty part comes in. Really, I did not owe the older model anything. After all, it was just a tool for the job, or so I thought. Having said all that, the phone I carry with me today could be described as a symbol of rebellion. Yes, I own a flip phone.  What was once a tool for the job has now become a symbol of status.

The convenience and practicality of a flip phone has been relegated by popular culture to be used by the poor, the elderly, and criminals. Steve Garbarino (2013) refutes this perception in his article that intimates a resurgence of the flip phone. Garbarino argues that flip phones still have value and are still used by prominent figures in sports, fashion, film, and finance for utilitarian reasons (tool for the job). Garbarino (2014) himself admits to carrying both a smartphone and a flip phone and suggests that there is a new movement under-foot. Some folks are even stockpiling these devices (Weiss, 2014). The fact that these prominent figures acknowledge the benefits of a flip phone is cause to pause and reflect on the cell phone as a device versus a status symbol. So began my investigation into the company that makes my cell phone – Samsung.

The background of my cell phone

When it comes of the sale of mobile devices, Samsung is the leader of the pack and is followed by Nokia and Apple respectively (Kiselicki, 2014). Kiselicki acknowledges that Apple and Samsung have sustainability programs in place however “the core problem is that the industry assesses and reacts to environmental impact in a limited fashion, beginning and concluding with the production process, as well as a simple life-cycle assessment of the product” (p 72-73). Upon deeper investigation, Kiselicki discovered that Samsung ranked seventh place out of ten regarding sustainable practices with Nokia ranking third and Apple ranking sixth.

Kiselicki’s findings certainly put Samsung’s company profile and sustainability report into perspective. The company profile mentions competitive threats (for example: dependence on Android, patent litigations, and intense competition) and has identified Nokia as a top competitor (MarketLine, 2015). Apple is not mentioned. The SWOT analysis boasts Samsung’s research and development (R&D) capabilities yet contains little mention of sustainability. Samsung maintains that it is committed to minimizing negative impacts to the environment at all levels – production facilities, raw materials acquisition, and disposal phases (2015 Sustainability Report). An example of their commitment can be found in their program to take discarded cell phones and combine them with photovoltaic panels to make a ‘mobile solar-powered projector’ (p 105). Another example is a program in Hungary that rewards students for returning their old cell phones in exchange for credits (points). Students can either use these points to purchase electronic products made by Samsung or to purchase stationery items.

These initiatives sound great on the surface but there are other programs that could be leveraged as well. Initiatives like Fairphone (aimed at eliminating the charger that accompanies a new phone) and Phonebloks (replaceable, upgradeable components) are adding pressure to larger cell phone companies to think of production and disposal in new ways (Kiselicki, 2014).   I was surprised at my sense of relief when the store offered to dispose of my old phone. When I asked the store what would happen to my old phone, they said that they would try to repair it and then donate it. Failing that, the phone would be stripped for salvageable parts and the remainder would be recycled. I was satisfied that I had done my part for the environment by asking what would happen to it. Little did I realize that cell phones contain a multitude of chemicals and elements that needed to be dealt with. Environmental waste from electronics, also known as WEEE (waste electronic and electrical equipment) or e-waste is an issue that affects us all and we, as consumers, have the power to influence manufacturers of cell phones by demanding take-back systems and demonstrating environmentally responsible purchasing behaviours (Babayemi, J. O., Osibanjo, O., and Weber, R., 2014).

Samsung’s Sustainability Report mainly focuses on eco-friendly packaging and materials. With 36 Research and Development (R&D) centres around the world, the goal of these centres is to predict future consumer needs and develop products to meet those needs. In essence, their function is to create something we don’t know we need yet. Taking this goal one step further, it could be said that they are in the business of planned obsolescence. For a company that was established in 1969 and consists of 3 divisions: consumer electronics (CE), information technology & mobile communications (IM), and device solutions (DS) which are subdivided into subsidiaries that are distributed across 213 offices around the globe (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. 2014 Business Report, n.d.), there is a lot at stake.

Samsung’s Headquarters is located in Suwon, Korea and they have 320,000 employees in 84 countries.   Samsung delivered sales of KRW206.2 trillion (KRW = Korean Republic Won) and earned KRW25 trillion in operating profits in 2014. Samsung expects to reach 77% market penetration for mobile phones by end of 2015 (Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. CEO Message, n.d.) and they are the producers of Galaxy branded products. A company of this size and economy of scale has an opportunity to radically influence environmentally friendly manufacturing and disposal of its products. We as consumers, must demand such practices and not succumb to targeted marketing. As more and more people acquire cell phones, it would be advantageous for Samsung to lead the charge instead of waiting for government imposed legislation.

I plan to keep my flip phone model for as long as possible. I will continue to encourage people to reconsider whether they need the latest and greatest model and to be thoughtful regarding the disposal of their old devices. I know that the next phone I get will have functions and features that are leaps and bounds ahead of the model I have today. If I wait long enough, someone may come up with a flip phone/smartphone hybrid. Perhaps then, I’ll have both a tool for the job and an elevated social status.

References

Babayemi, J. O., Osibanjo, O., & Weber, R. (2014). Assessment of use, reuse, and end-of-life disposal and X-Ray fluorescence analysis screening of waste mobile phones in Nigeria. Environmental Quality Management, 23(4), 1-12. doi:10.1002/tqem.21372

Garbarino, S. (2013, December 7). Flipping for Flip Phones?. Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition. p. D10

Garbarino, S. (2014, November). It takes two cellphones to tango. Wall Street Journal – Eastern Edition. p. D11

Kiselicki, M. (2014). Reducing electronic and environmental waste through commercially sustainable mobile devices. Journal of Sustainable Development (1857-8519), 5(11), 71-90

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. (2014). 2014 Sustainability report. (accessed on July 5, 2015 from http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/sustainabilityreports/download/2015/SAMSUNG_SUSTAINABILITY_REPORT_2015_ENG.pdf )

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. (2014). 2014 Business report. (accessed July 5, 2015 from http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/investor_relations/financial_information/business_report.html )

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. (n.d). Company profile. MarketLine. Retrieved on July 5, 2015 from James A. Gibson Library Brock University, Company Information

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. (n.d). CEO message. (accessed July 5, 2015 from http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/investor_relations/ceomessage/ )

Weiss, T. R. (2014). Flip Phone Simplicity Again Gets Attention From Some Users. Eweek, 1

My Purple HP Laptop

Out of the many technological devices I own, I depend on my purple HP laptop the most. My dependency on it spawned from a distaste I have for not having anything to do. I love to keep my mind busy with writing short stories or playing strategy games online. I think of my laptop as a window which can open up to a myriad of possibilities where I can learn, create, share and play. I feel comfortable knowing that with my laptop by my side I will never be bored. Although it is an inanimate object, my laptop has played a part in shaping my personality and it has had a huge effect on how I live my life by taking on an important role in my daily routine. Its secret power is how it gives me a sense of freedom by being able to connect me to the world and by giving me information and the ability to create at my fingertips. It connects me to answers, information and ideas in a matter of seconds. The moment I open my laptop, I feel invigorated. I feel as if I have the ability to create and contribute to the world. It gives me a sense of belonging and it has become a part of who I am.

My purple laptop is the second laptop I have owned in my lifetime. The first one I owned was a tiny Apple laptop that I purchased the year I started university. I found myself very reliant on that laptop as well. Seeing as it was the first computer I had ever owned, I stored all of my school work, photographs and music on it. When I had purchased the Apple laptop, it was on sale because a newer model had just been released. Because of this, it had older software than the newer model that replaced it. This consequently shortened its lifespan. I used my Apple laptop for two years until it became very slow and was unable to download the newest version of Firefox because its software had become old and obsolete. It is an understatement to say that I was very upset when I realized I had to purchase a new laptop. Nevertheless, I required a laptop that was up to date in order to finish my studies so I shopped around for a few months until I found my purple HP. The decision to switch from an Apple computer to an HP was based on the lack of computer programs available for Apple. The fact that the HP was almost one thousand dollars less than a new Apple laptop was also a deciding factor. Now that I have the purple HP, I no longer use my Apple laptop. It currently sits on the top shelf in the closet of my office where it is unseen and forgotten. I know that it will never function well enough to be used again, but to give it up to be recycled would be heart-breaking to me. Because of the memories I have associated with it, it will always hold­­­ a place in my heart and I will never let it go.

Hewlett-Packard’s Green Initiatives and the Fate of my Purple Laptop

            Hewlett-Packard is listed as number thirty-five in Forbes most valuable brands with $57.9 billion in revenue as of 2014 (Forbes, 2015). It was founded in the United States in 1939 by William R. Hewlett and David Packard (Hall, n.d.). In 2014 the company’s profits were $1.27 billion, which was up 18% from the previous year (Burke, 2015). The company’s headquarters are located in the United States in Palo Alto, California and they currently employ 302,000 people (Forbes, 2015). They have several research laboratories located around the world including India, China, Russia, England, Japan and Israel (Hall, n.d.).

            Hewlett-Packard has an excellent reputation as an employer (Nash & Fernandez-Kelly, 1983). They are known for having an exceptional work environment and they treat their employees well by offering higher than average wages (Nash & Fernandez-Kelly, 1983). They have over three hundred labour markets throughout the world and they have a reputation for employing a diversity of ethnic groups (Nash & Fernandez-Kelly, 1983). Furthermore, they do not gender discriminate (Karsten, 2006). The first CEO of Hewlett-Packard was a woman by the name of Carly Fiorina (Hall, n.d.). The current CEO is also a woman by the name of Margaret Whitman (Forbes, 2015).

            As far as recycling goes, Hewlett-Packard leads the way with the most cutting-edge ideas for the disposal and reuse of their products (Greiner, 2015). The company’s innovative plan is called closed looped recycling, which involves creating items specifically to be reused (Greiner, 2015). For example, when an HP ink cartridge is empty, the consumer can ship it back to the company free of charge so that it can be filled and resold (Greiner, 2015). Hewlett-Packard has recycled more than 500 million cartridges so far and up to 70% of their ink cartridges are made from recycled material (Hewlett-Packard, 2015). It is not only ink cartridges that can be sent back for recycling, they also offer free shipping for customers to send obsolete products back to them for proper disposal (Motolla, 2005). They boast that they design and ship items to be environmentally friendly from start to finish (Hewlett-Packard, 2015). With the convenience of free shipping to over fifty countries, Hewlett-Packard has made every effort to make its products as environmentally friendly as possible (Hewlett-Packard, 2015). Hewlett-Packard saves millions of dollars by offering a recycling program (Motolla, 2005).

            Although Hewlett-Packard has worked hard to initiate a recycling program, they are still creating products with planned obsolescence in mind (Beam, 2011). For instance, in the 1990’s HP printers were a lot more durable and lasted a lot longer than they do currently (The Old Wolf, 2013). Furthermore, if Hewlett-Packard is as environmentally friendly as they claim to be, the price of buying a full set of their printer ink cartridges should not cost more than buying a new printer (Beam, 2011). Lowering the price of the replacement ink cartridges could encourage consumers to hang on to their electronic devices instead of replacing them with newer models.

            Companies such as Apple play a role in making Hewlett-Packard laptops obsolete. Since Apple upgrades their technological devices on an annual basis, and since their technology is always marketed as being on the cutting edge, those who purchase other products, such as Hewlett-Packard, may feel as if they need to upgrade to a newer device more often than they need to in order to keep up-to-date with technology (Ackerman, 2014). Consequently, some consumers may choose to move forward with Apple products instead of HP because Apple’s marketing strategies always place them in the forefront of technology (DeMers, 2014).

            Microsoft also has a hand in making Hewlett-Packard laptops obsolete. For instance, Microsoft upgrades the Windows software roughly every three years and once a computer is purchased with the newest software, Microsoft only offers support for the device three years following the purchase (Microsoft, 2014). Because of this, Microsoft will eventually be responsible for making my HP laptop obsolete. Furthermore, Microsoft will experience an economic gain by doing so since any computer running off the Windows platform will only be able to upgrade for a certain time period based on the original platform installed (Computer Maestros, n.d.). Once the computer is no longer able to load items because of its old software, it will no longer function properly and will therefore need to be replaced (Computer Maestros, n.d.).

            The companies that create technological devices have the power to generate more profit by keeping planned obsolescence in mind during their creation. These companies create new devices that make their old technology obsolete, which in turn forces consumers to replace their old items with new items (Hogan & Zeffiro, 2015). This is how companies contribute to the vast amount of techno-trash in our landfills (Hogan & Zeffiro, 2015). Conversely, the aforementioned companies also have the power to limit the amount of techno-trash created by making their products without an expiry date and by limiting the frequency of software updates. The likelihood of this scenario is unfortunately not a viable option for companies such as Apple, who are making a lot of money and are therefore unlikely to change their marketing strategies anytime soon (DeMers, 2014). Sadly, if we as consumers do not stop upgrading our products to the newest technology available, and if the companies who create the products to fail do not change their ways, the landfills will be full of our techno-trash and eventually our electronic waste will take over the world.

References

Ackerman, D. (2014, June 2). Apple breaks the annual mac upgrade cycle. CNET. Retrieved from http://www.cnet.com/news/apple-breaks-the-annual-mac-upgrade-cycle/

Beam, J. (2011, August 5). Designed to fail: Planned obsolescence in printers – tricks to fix them! [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.reportsfromearth.com/155/designed-to-fail-planned-obsolescence-in-printers-tricks-to-fix-them/

Burke, S. (2015). HP eyes $2 billion in cost cutting in troubled enterprise services business. The CRN. Retrieved from http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/300076904/hp-eyes-2-billion-in-cost-cutting-in-troubled-enterprise-services-business.htm

DeMers, J. (2014, August). Here’s the simple secret to apple’s marketing success. Forbes. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/jaysondemers/2014/07/08/heres-the-simple-secret-to-apples-marketing-success/

Forbes the World’s Most Valuable Brands (2015). Electronic reference. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/companies/hewlett-packard/

Computer Maestros (n.d.). Electronic reference. Retrieved from http://www.computermaestros.com/slow.php

Greiner, L. (2015, May 15). A look inside HP’s closed loop recycling strategy. Financial Post. Retrieved from http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/cio/a-look-inside-hps-closed-loop-recycling-strategy

Hall, M. (n.d.). Hewlett-Packard Company. In Encyclopaedia Britannica Online. Retrieved from http://www.britannica.com/topic/Hewlett-Packard-Company

Hewlett-Packard (2015). Electronic References. Retrieved from http://www8.hp.com/ca/en/ads/supplies/environment.html?jumpid=va_r311_ca/en/any/corp/recycle

Hogan, M. & Zeffiro, A. (2015). Out of Site & Out of Mind: Speculative Historiographies of Techno-trash. New American Notes Online. Retrieved from http://www.nanocrit.com/issues/7-2015/out-site-out-mind-speculative-historiographies-techno-trash

Karsten, M.F. (2006). Gender, race, and ethnicity in the workplace: Organizational practices and individual strategies for women and minorities (p 269). Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group.

Microsoft (2014, April). Electronic References. Retrieved from http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/lifecycle

Motolla, D. (2005, November 5). Developing world is our toxic techno-trash dumpster. Austin Chronicle. Retrieved from http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2005-11-04/306954/

Nash, J. & Fernandez-Kelly, P. (1983). Women men and the international division of labor (pp. 286-287). Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?id=o9Se6JmIKQoC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false

The Old Wolf (2013, March 10). Planned obsolescence. [Web log comment]. Retrieved from https://playingintheworldgame.wordpress.com/2013/03/10/planned-obsolescence/

My husband and kids are the techies in my family.  The good news is that I did not have to spend much to get the devices you see in the photo.  My husband has worked in the telecom industry for over 20 years. His job brings with it many fringe benefits.  The last time he attended a conference he came home with an iPad mini and an Xbox 360.  It is important to his company that he uses the most current devices so that he is able to promote the products to his clients and conduct his work more effectively.

In this photograph you will see all the cell phones I have owned and used in the past.  All but one is included here.  If it did not belong to the company it too would have shown up in this photos as well because I tend to keep all of my electronic devices.

Just last year I updated my iPhone 4 to the new iPhone 5c.  During our last family vacation I dropped my cell phone from a lawn chair and the screen shattered.  It seemed rather symbolic at the time.  With a full time job and a full time course load I am kept busy.  This vacation was an opportunity to take a break from the madness.  The one thing keeping me connected was my cell phone, which broke on the first day of our vacation.  I waited 4 months before getting a new phone because I did not feel that it was worth spending the money for a new device.  Four months later my telecom provider offered our family a credit that covered the cost of a new phone.

I tend to be a creature of habit.  I am not typically concerned with the version of phone.  As long as it is working it is good enough for me. The only reason I update or change my devices is because it breaks or my telephone carrier offers me a new one.  If my carrier did not offer this promotion on occasion I would still likely be using my blackberry because it was sturdy and offered all that I needed.  I typically use it to tell time, to make phone calls, send text messages, and recently I downloaded an app that would document all of my kids sporting events.

I have kept all electronic devices accumulated over the last 16 years.  When we moved into our new home we packed boxes of old VHS tapes and DVDs, which are still sitting in the boxes.  I no longer use the phones in the photograph yet these are sitting neatly in a drawer.  In fact, I have even put my Pentium 233, which I purchased in the late 90’s, to good use.  It currently serves as the monitor for my alarm system.

I am skeptical about getting rid of electronic devices because I am concerned that others will have access to my personal information.  I would not want a stranger to have access to my contact list or my financial statements from the last 15 years.  Until now, I was not aware of the best way to dispose of them.  While I had not considered the environmental impact at the time of purchase or when I stopped using them, I am pleased that I have not disposed of any because I feel that I am able to make a better decision about how to do it. In the past I probably would have just thrown them away with the weekly recycling.  Recently, I visited a Best Buy store and noticed that they have a drop box for old cell phones.  I had never noticed this service before but I would definitely consider using this service.

Prior to my “switch” to iPhone, in my days as a BlackBerry user, I would very frequently have to replace my phone. Consequently, this meant I had to dispose of the defective phones as well. I am embarrassed to admit that I did not dispose of my broken smartphones in an environmentally conscious fashion. More than often, they were simply thrown out in the garbage. The reason for this comes down to ignorance of environmental consequences of improper technological disposal.

In regard to other dimensions of environmental consciousness such as household waste disposal, I have been educated since childhood about the impacts of waste pollution, recycling and composting. This cannot be said about technological waste. Unfortunately, the formal educational system does not offer children, adolescents and young people the type of framework required to develop environmental awareness of technological waste. It appears there is a blind spot in both educational and pop cultural discourse with regard to techno trash.

The environmental consequences of our use of technology are largely concealed. Many are unaware of the harmful environmental effects of technological disposal and energy use. This form of secrecy protects businesses who would certainly be subject to a higher degree of media and social backlash if staggeringly high numbers were revealed. The techno-environmental blind spot is sustained because there is a lack of educational and governmental influence, which breeds a ignorance on the matter and ultimately inhibits awareness.

As a Communication major in the media stream, I have read and written tremendously about the social facet of technological use. I have developed a profound and theoretical understanding of the consequences of technological use in contemporary society. However, I am not fully aware of the environmental implications of technological use or disuse. As a matter of fact, this year I will be enrolled in COMM 4P18, a course offering on Media and The Natural Environment. This course explores the media constructions of environmental issues, but also the environmental impact of technological use. It is this kind of academic and theoretical knowledge that may be required (to a lesser degree) in classrooms and other learning establishments to shed light on the previously obscured techno-environmental blind spot.

The integration of a solid awareness program is what is needed at the university level especially if we compare my individual disposal practices to that of an entire establishment.

The computer and energy usage on campus increases as the school expands and as the reliance on computers becomes more prevalent. In this day and age, post-secondary education requires the use of computers for research purposes, course registration, university portal access (such as Sakai) – this makes the consumption of energy and technology inevitable for a large demographic. More importantly, there are hundreds of computers on campus: in the library, learning commons, computer labs and auditoriums. These computers are frequently replaced as result of technological obsolescence – when a computer or printer model is not the latest, it becomes less favourable to use and guarantees less compatibility with other recent software. The Apple computers in the computer labs have recently been replaced despite the fact that the previous set were 2011 models and only three years-old.

There should be a strategic plan in motion in schools, post-secondary establishments, healthcare centres and businesses to mitigate the consumption by computers and the disposal of obsolete or defective equipment. This would certainly require policy implementation at the provincial or federal level to develop strategies but also awareness-building initiatives for citizens like myself, who due to intentional obscurity, are unaware of the potentially permanent effects of technological consumption and disposal.

Now that I am better informed on the ramifications of my disuse of devices, I will be taking precautionary and proactive measures to assure that the lifecycle of my tech devices, from procurement to consumption and all the way to disposal, are environmentally and ecologically conscientious.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

I bought my desktop at the beginning of my 3rd year of University. I got my cell phone around the same time my mother got her own in May of 2012, and because of a deal at Rogers we also got a free XBOX 360. My iPod was a gift for my 20th birthday to replace a broken one.

I also have a laptop, which was a gift from my mother, partly as  a high school graduation gift and as a necessity to get me through my first year of university. I no longer use my laptop on a regular basis is because it recently broke. It still runs properly, but if it is moved in any way it will either restart or shut-off. I brought it in to get it repaired and they told me that the problem was with the motherboard and that it would be better for me to replace it altogether. I’ve had the laptop since May of 2010, so I’d say that’s a pretty good life span for a laptop – certainly longer than any other computer I’ve owned.

I wait until something is no longer working properly to update it, like with my laptop. Of course I don’t toss away technology at the first sign of a flaw; we live right down the street from an electronics store where they also do repairs at a very fair cost, so when something is wrong with one of our computers, we go there first.

I’ve had the same phone for 2 years but lately I have been considering an upgrade, even though it barely gives me any problems. My main motivation for wanting a change is that I’d like something that runs a bit faster and that has a better camera. The apps on my current phone are slow and even sometimes glitch. The operating system on the phone tends to lag as well, which can be bothersome, and I find I’m restarting my phone more often than I have in the past.

There are at least 3 broken desktop computers, 1 printer and 1-2 laptops sitting in our basement that are currently unused, along with a vast number of computer accessories. I know for a fact that my 3 previous cell phones are sitting somwhere in the house gathering dust.

I never realized how bad of a problem e-waste is until recently. I couldn’t imagine how devices that were sitting out of the way in our basement could actually be harming the environment. It’s likely that our technological devices – aside from broken appliances and larger dead batteries – haven’t  been disposed of properly.

I would like to think – now that I’m aware just how big of an issue e-waste is –  that when it comes time to clearing out the basement, we will dispose of these technological devices in the best way possible. I know of battery recycling program at my local mall, but I’ll have to do a bit of research to figure out where I should properly dispose of my old and broken technological devices.

Now that I am aware of the impact of e-waste on the environment, I will do my best to spread the word, not just with my immediate family but among my friends as well.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

When it comes to replacing these old gadgets I like to wait as long as possible for newer versions to come out so that I can get a newer version that will hopefully last me longer than if I were to buy the current version. I do not hold onto my devices if I am not using them. I tend to recycle my old devices through programs at my school and hope that others would seek out ways too dispose of their old technologies responsibly.

When it comes to recycling efforts I understand that hard plastics need special attention since these materials take so long to decompose. Batteries must also be looked at closely due to the acids contained within them. Other devices which I have owned in the past, such as portable game systems and toys, have been disposed of by my parents, and while I do not know exactly how my products were disposed of, I do know that a large number of them ended up at Value Village where they are sold for charity and can be enjoyed a second time.

As a kid my reasons for throwing out my toys were not sound or logic-based decisions; instead, if I got bored or if there was something better out there I would immediately want that one. My parents did their best to balance out the kids’ needs for new stuff with the need to replace stuff that didn’t work anymore.

My devices have largely been bought for me by my parents and have been disposed of by my parents. However they did their best to distil in me a sense of responsibility for the products that we as a family used and sometimes wasted. In my lifetime I have seen a lot of different products and the lifetime of these products is often very short. I am very aware of just how much waste I have produced.

As a kid I had no concept of pollution and its effects on the world, and despite my teachers attempts at explaining it, I continued to blissfully use and throw out whatever I pleased.

Consumerism is a powerful ideal and it’s something our society tries to force on us at a young age. The need to consume more and more and get the newest version isn’t human nature but instead a thought process which major companies thrive on. By teaching kids that they need new toys to be happy they are instilling all of us with the same ideal that new is better and that more is better. If there is no demand for new products in certain markets then the market may slowdown or even stop and this makes getting rid of consumerism all together a dangerous idea.

My parents worked to make sure that I respected what I was given and that I understood why I couldn’t get or didn’t need the latest thing. I too must work to instil responsible ideals in the the next generation so that major companies aren’t allowed to dictate the demand for there products. The factors that push us towards replacing old technologies too soon are very shallow and rely on us not thinking through the results of our actions as a whole and instead depend on us viewing the world in a selfish manner. By convincing us that newer is better, corporations continue to produce new products with very little regard for what will happen to an older product. There are many examples of products being replaced, but judging when it is a necessary replacement and when it is a superficial replacement can be very difficult at times. We must use caution when replacing old technology.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

On a daily basis, I make frequent use of my iPhone, iPod and laptop. These three devices, especially my iPhone and laptop, have affected my life significantly. It was Christmas 2008 that I received my first generation iPod touch as a gift. It wasn’t long after that I purchased my very first laptop (which has since been replaced) at Future Shop. After using various technological devices and brands, I finally acquired my iPhone through my service provider, Rogers. I acquired each of these devices at different times, from different locations, and yet all are of equal importance in my technological life.

When I was younger, I felt it was necessary to update my cell phone regardless of the condition. I was a victim of the marketing ploy; I constantly felt the need to update my phone to keep up with the changing conditions of the market. Nowadays, the excitement of updating my phone has faded. I have had my current, the iPhone 4s, for almost two years, and I don’t plan on updating it anytime soon. As I grew older, I feel as though I have become smarter in my decisions relating to technology. I no longer need what is new; I just need a working device. My mentality was different with my laptop. As laptops are usually more expensive, I definitely didn’t feel the need to replace my old laptop until it was completely broken down. Once it died, I replaced it with a newer, updated version. The real hero in my technology story features my first generation iPod that I received in 2008. After a few years, it still works perfectly fine. The need to constantly change and update my technological devices has evolved has I have become older.

My obsession with technology when I was younger has led to an overload of unused devices in my house. Most of my old cellphones have been turned off for years; however, I have yet to dispose of them. The very first desktop computer I ever owned (with the monitor) sits in my basement collecting dust. Unfortunately, it’s the same sad story for my first laptop. Quite recently, I was in my basement when I came across an old Walkman of mine. With the evolution of technology, it’s obvious that I no longer have any use for that device. I have never made an effort to dispose of my devices properly. Most of my devices find their way into empty drawers, and stay there for years until they’re thrown out with the regular garbage.

Though, not all of my technological devices have ended up this way. A few years ago, I was alerted of a program run by Rogers, Fido and various other telecommunication companies. The program is called Phones for Food and it consists of collecting money for food banks. In return, the companies collect unwanted e-waste, and recycle them to avoid an overload in landfills. The program sounded quite appealing, so I grabbed my first cellphone and unused mp3 player to donate to the cause. The devices were out of my hands but I didn’t realize that the real victory revolved around the devices being disposed of properly. Previously, I did not consider the social and environmental impacts of my devices. I held an out of sight, out of mind mentality.

Once the devices were out of my hands, I never considered where they might end up or how it would impact the environment and other people around the world.

Had I known about the detrimental effects of e-waste sooner, I would have been more conscious about where and how I disposed of my technological devices. After some research, I have discovered that it is easy to dispose of unwanted devices through various programs, including one here at Brock University. I realize now more than ever that it is important to dispose of devices properly, otherwise our e-waste problem will become worse.  Now that I am aware of the effects of e-waste, I plan on taking action to donate all the devices I found around my house for this assignment. My new awareness of the social and environmental impacts from technological devices has given me the drive to halt this e-waste overload.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

I use my laptop on a very consistent basis as well. During the school year I use my computer very consistently for research, assignments, taking notes, and keeping up with all the course material that is online. I purchased my computer online the summer before coming to university. After having good luck with Apple products, I knew a MacBook pro would be a good investment for the years ahead of me. I haven’t had to update my laptop as it still runs very smoothly and this is important because I am  depending on it to last me through university and beyond.

After having my phone stolen I went to Kijiji to find a replacement and I found an iPhone in great condition for a very fair price. At first, I was worried about acquiring my phone from someone I was unfamiliar with, but I haven’t had any issues with the product so far. My phone, however, has been updated every couple of years . Until I was forced to replace my missing phone, I normally replaced my phone when wanting something newer and more technologically advanced than what I previously owned. I moved from a standard phone, to a Blackberry and most recently updated to an iPhone 5c. I wanted to upgrade to an iPhone because of the apps that were available for social and practical use and the compatibility that went along with my computer and other apple products that I own. Now that I’m an experienced iPhone user, I do not see myself switching away from one anytime soon. I love what the iPhone has to offer and am constantly finding additional uses for it. I also find the staff and support of the company very helpful and reliable as they handle any issue with ease.

In the closet of my bedroom at home I have a box full of  cords, charging devices and electronics that I do not use anymore. These cords belong to camera’s, MP3 players, phones, and other devices that have been broken, replaced or I just no longer use. I also have MP3 players and my old blackberry smart phone.

I am not intentionally saving any of these devices for any particular reason, but rather I just never know what to do with them. I also find that I am convincing myself that I may need them one day, or if I get rid of them that it will come back to bite me.  I have hardly disposed of any devices throughout my life but when I do, even with things such as batteries, the garbage can is where I place them.

At Brock University there is a place to dispose of ink cartridges when they are empty. I believe there should also be similar places  that can readily accept electronics to appropriately dispose of them.

I rarely consider the social or environmental impacts when purchasing, using or disposing of my products, which I think is often the norm. Although we are  familiar with how to use these devices efficiently and effectively, we completely lack knowledge as to the impacts of our habits. We should be more informed as students as to the consequences our choices are making, and additionally, be given opportunities to correct our mistakes and effectively dispose or donate our electronics.

Seminars should become mandatory, or more information should be at our disposal as this would  increase our likelihood of being more careful about our choices. This could also be done through companies. Perhaps if someone is looking to upgrade and send back an old product to recycle properly,  a discount could be offered on the new one.

As a culture, we now rely on technology to get us through our everyday lives. Doing so safely and leaving behind as small a footprint as possible demands knowledge and awareness.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

On a daily basis I’ve come to rely on three basic electronic devices, all of which link me to the internet and serve as convenient communication devices.  The item I rely on most is my laptop computer which I purchased three years ago.  I use this item mainly for work and study purposes.  I purchased a Blackberry smartphone about five years ago and use it frequently to check my email, organize my calendar, communicate with others, and less frequently to access the web for smaller tasks I don’t want to turn my computer on for. Lastly, this Christmas I was fortunate enough to receive an I-pad as a gift from my wife; probably because the course registered for required me to use an e-book and I was monopolizing her tablet.

I’ve been replacing personal computers every five years.  I had to replace my first computer because it had become a dinosaur.  The memory and speed of this machine could no longer run even basic programs at respectable speeds and was not equipped with a DVD drive which virtually all other computers had as standard equipment.  It was definitely time to replace this computer, with a brand new modernly equipped laptop which I assumed would keep me happy for 10 years or so.  Well I was so sadly mistaken.  Five years later, I had been through two batteries, had virtually no memory left, and the machine was running frustrating slow compared to its younger years.  I’m now on my third computer, again purchased the best I can afford, but at the three years mark I predict it will realize the same fate as its predecessors two years from now.

A similar pattern exists with my smartphones.  Alarmingly, these so far have been replaced every three years.  A consistent issue with these items has been short battery life, coupled with three year contracts that encourage an upgrade to a new and much improved product for less than the price of maintaining the older product.  With such incentives, it’s difficult justifying holding on to an older product.  While my I-pad is less than one year old, based on other experiences I expect it will also wear out its welcome within four years.

Up until last year I had been saving my old electronic devices, with the exception of my old laptop (pictured in hibernation below) which I plan to refurbish for my children.  Last year I took all the techno-trash that had been accumulating in my basement to a municipal hazardous waste recycling centre.  However, should I have decided to dispose of these items any earlier, I likely would have dumped them in my garbage can out of ignorance.

The overconsumption of electronic devices has real environmental and social consequences that shouldn’t be ignored.  Considering the world population and the rate at which people replace these products, it’s easy to see how the staggering tonnage of techno-trash has come to exist, and without effective measures to curb its accumulation, will continue to gro.

Worse yet, I’ve learned that much of this toxic trash is shipped off to find a home in third world country landfills, under the guise of being re-used by the less fortunate.  It seems corporations have little problem convincing people their old devices are serving a noble purpose, when in-fact they are poisoning their new habitat.  I feel companies selling these products need to take more responsibility for educating customers about end of life disposal for their products they sell.  Socially, production of these products does little to improve life circumstances of labourers manufacturing them.  Rather than sharing profits by offering fair wages to desperate workers, low pay and poor working conditions are used to maximize profits.  This business practice prevents workers from improving an already poor lifestyle, reinforcing their sub-standard socioeconomic position in the global environment.  Reflecting on the social and environmental impacts of owning these products will certainly influence my future purchasing decisions.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.

My video game consoles range from the very first Nintendo to the Playstation 4, and I have yet to dispose of any of these consoles except for my Xbox, which I sold. Every console has been a gift from my parents and all are still in working condition with games and controllers. Although, I only play my Playstation 4, 3, and Wii daily,  the rest of my consoles are in storage.

I received my first cell phone – a AudiVox phone –  when I was in grade eight.  From there I went on  to the iPhone 3G and then a BlackBerry Bold 9900.I would consider my phone to be a major part of my life becuase if I don’t have it on me  then I feel like there is something missing. The cellphone has been the main source of communication between and others since grade 8. I still have all of my phones – even the little silver Audiovox – all of which work. I  upgrad phones when my plans end. Currently, I am changing to an Android from BlackBerry because both my contract is up and I feel the need to upgrade to newer and better technology.

As a child I had a desktop PC and I acquired my own laptop when I started university. Since, then I have upgraded to a MacBook Pro and a Samsung Tablet due to the necessity of a laptop and other devices when attending university. I use my laptop and tablet every day, all day, for hours. Whether it be for school homework , lecture notes, communication, social media, news, research, or games, my computer is one of my most used technological devices and I would be lost without it.

Last but, certainly not least, i I have gone through just about every portable music device from Walkmen’s to iPods. These devices were used daily on my walks to school.

The only question left to ask is where did all these devices go?

 I currently have all of my phones, video game consoles, and musical devices back home in Toronto. The only device that I have disposed of is my first laptop, which I sold on Kijiji.  I would like to say that I’ve held on to these devices out of  concern for the environmental effects of e-waste, but this is not the case. My reasoning has more to do with my attachment to each device – as being a part of my child hood – and the fact that these devices still work.  I do believe that some day I will get rid of the technological devices of my past through a electronic recycling program or by selling them to others, but for now I enjoy the happy memories these devices bring to me.

* Submission is based on an assignment from COMM2F00: New Media Literacy at Brock University.