Lecture 19 Flashcards
(39 cards)
Who designed the ‘everlasting’ lightbulb in 1895?
Adolphe Chaillet.
How long was Chaillet’s lightbulb designed to last?
Over 1 million hours (about 120 years of continuous use).
Why didn’t Chaillet’s lightbulb become mainstream?
The 1924 Phoebus Cartel suppressed it.
What was the Phoebus Cartel?
A global conspiracy of lightbulb companies to limit bulb lifespan to 1000 hours.
Why did the Phoebus Cartel limit bulb life?
To ensure ongoing consumer purchases and maximize profits.
How is the Phoebus Cartel model used today?
It’s a blueprint for planned obsolescence in all major industries.
Which modern companies are built on the planned obsolescence model?
Google, Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, etc.
What is planned obsolescence?
Deliberate design of products to fail or become obsolete to drive sales.
What has planned obsolescence led to globally?
Collapse of sustainable goods and massive environmental destruction.
Is the problem with our technology or our values?
It’s primarily a social and value-system issue, not technological.
Why is addressing consumerism difficult?
Society is built around it, and criticizing it leads to loss of support.
What is modern society fundamentally built on?
Consumerism and profit-driven economics.
What are engineers often instructed to do in the current system?
Design products that fail intentionally to ensure future purchases.
What is the real goal of most businesses?
Profit—by adapting to market demands, often through disposable goods.
What question challenges the foundation of our economy?
What if our growth and economic models are fundamentally wrong?
What principle do Indigenous cultures teach about consumption?
Take only the minimum and waste nothing.
How do Indigenous communities approach resource use?
They work for the good of the small community and respect nature.
Why focus on the local rather than the global community?
Small, self-sustaining communities can manage resources more responsibly.
What is one key value in Indigenous approaches to technology?
Set boundaries on use and avoid overexploitation of natural resources.
Which ancient civilization also set boundaries on resource use?
The ancient Chinese.
What is the Anti-Growth model?
An approach focused on reducing consumption, waste, and ecological impact.
What is the goal of designing under the anti-growth model?
Create long-lasting, sustainable goods that reduce environmental damage.
Who is Serge Latouche?
A critic of the modern growth-based society and its economic models.
What does Latouche say about society’s mindset today?
We’ve all become economists who believe consuming drives the economy.
