Made to Break: Part Three

In the concluding section of Made to Break, by Giles Slade, the competition of actual microchips, obsolescent weapons, and e-waste were discussed. In the “Chips” chapter, Slade discusses the miniaturization of technology and how since the 1960’s, technology is getting smaller and faster. This included something as simple as the slide rule which evolved to the modern day calculator. With the development of the calculator, complex calculations were being solved more efficiently and easier than ever before. However, engineers who grew up using slide rules found it hard to part ways with the outdated technology and were being left in the dust by younger workers who were using calculators. “Age, not wealth, determined which engineers had the advantage.” (p.203) This seems to parallel our job markets today because if you are not up on the most recent technologies in just about any line of work, you are seen as less knowledgeable. It is to anyone’s advantage in their career to be informed on what is new and upcoming because it sets you apart.

            The “E-waste” chapter discussed the growing amount of cell phone and other technological waste that has encroached our country. Slade explained that cell phones are the most discarded technology our country has. There are dangers to disposing technology because of the “permanent biological toxins (PBTs),” which are hazardous to our health. Reading about this freaked me out because it made me wonder what we are going to do with all the discarded products that people throw away daily. Are they going to come up with an eco-friendly phone? I do not really see how that would be possible. I am proud to say that I am not an e-waster. I am not very current with a lot of technology. My current phone is only about a year old, but in my life (23 years) I have only owned four phones. I know people who have had triple that amount. Also my lap top is about five or six years old. I know my efforts are miniscule in hindsight, but if I am one less person adding to the e-waste, so be it. The only thing I wonder is what the solution is, like will there ever be an eco-friendly phone? I might have to invent one if there is not one already!