If you’ve owned antique or vintage furniture or appliances, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed how durable these old items are. And when compared to modern devices, the difference is night and day—newer technology breaks and bends as easily as paper, while older stuff sometimes feels as durable as tanks. But how can it be possible for newer items to be worse than older ones? Shouldn’t newer technology create better and more durable items? But in reality, most of the appliances, furniture, and tools being sold to us now are specifically designed to be weak and frail.
To find out more, watch the video below:
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “the big question” mean? “ So the big question is, how has this light bulb lasted so long?” Use this term in a sentence. Give a similar expression.
- What does “thermal expansion and thermal contraction” mean? “And the fact that it was always on reduced the thermal cyclin of the filament and components limiting the stress caused by thermal expansion and contraction.” Use this term in a sentence.
- What is “get their hands on”? “There were literal riots when women tried to get their hands on them.” Use this phrase in a sentence and give a similar expression.
Discussion Questions:
- Why have companies made their products intentionally worse even as technology has improved?
- What is your opinion on planned obsolescence? Is it a good thing for consumers and the environment? Explain your reasoning.
- Have you noticed examples of planned obsolescence before? If so, give details on what you’ve noticed.
- Do you believe planned obsolescence is necessary for businesses to survive? Why or why not?