Going Green - Recycling Technology

I am surprised that it has taken this long for large companies to get serious about our environment. With family working in the industry, my values have been constantly challenged over the years. Yes I am drawn to the new "Toys" and marvel at their capabilities but what about the waste? Heavy emphasis on the so many as the landfills are exploding. Having a son in law working for HP and a spouse working in a server environment, I have seen the mass distribution of new equipment as if decking the children out for school in September.

One would think that these high teck companies responsible for the provision and expansion of teck related services would have recognized their role sooner. Do they really believe that they have not influenced society. Was it not their intent to be the social role model when it comes to upgrading? They set the standards and expect the masses to follow. We have abided by their wishes.

The life of a computer is 3 years - even if it still works fine.
People complain about the value of a car depreciating but computer are worse

The life of a walk man - " Before it was obsolete " - less then a year
Cost $40.00 - a must have item for kids going back to school in the Fall

Have you notice ????

The marketing of walkmans as portable music delivery devices paved the way for the explosion of the IPod market.

When I introduce adult friends to my new I Pod Touch the most common response I get is " No I have not seen one - I have seen the Kids with them "

Good Marketing Yes ! No question about that but what about the waste and peer pressure. I am fortunate that my children have grown and I do not have to provide their technological pleasures such as the XBox, PS3s, cellphones and IPODS not to mention their recent need to own laptop coputers to fit into their peer group when they return to school in the fall.

Perhaps this has some bearing on the rising personal debt that is troubling so many families in this day and age.

Needless to say I am pleased to see that HP has published a white paper on slowing down the rotation of computers but doubt that the effect on society will have an immediate effect.


http://www.hp.com/sbso/solutions/pc_expertise/closed-loop-lifecycle-planning.pdf