In the last portion of Slade's work, the author notes obsolescence in regards to technology. More specifically, Slade notes the changing obsolescence in computer chips. As early as 1963, engineers within IBM already began worrying about the obsolescence of their chips; "...an internal memo answered the concerns of some young IBM engineers who worried that the solid-circuit technology used in the designs and prototypes for the System/360 series would soon become obsolete" (194). Frighteningly enough, IBM predicted almost 50 years ago that these processor chips would soon be outdated by newer models. However, it is improbable that the engineers at IBM those many long years ago would imagine a society that could relatively easily discard last years model.
Slade later goes on to highlight the obsolescence in cell phones and other types of "E-waste". According to Slade, "When e-waste is burned anywhere in the world, dioxins, furans, and other pollutants are released into the air, with potentially disastrous health consequences around the globe. When e-waste is buried in a landfill, PBTs eventually seep into the groundwater, poisoning it" (261). Due to the eventual pile up of burned or discarded e-waste around the world, "contamination of America's fresh water supply from e-waste may soon become the greatest biohazard facing the continent"(Slade 262). Not only is it down right disgusting to imagine what results we may face for the burning of e-waste around the globe, it also highlights a very crucial flaw in society. Our persistent need to acquire new technology is telling in that we have an obsession with the new, "hip" thing on the market, rather than have a realistic outlook on these developing technologies. By society taking on a realistic outlook, I simply mean that we should analyze new technologies for their practicality to daily life, and whether or not these technologies are absolutely crucial, or whether they simply represent "toys" or new fun things to play with and serve no real purpose for bettering society (Technologies that have bettered society in the past are things like the telephone or the automobile, more or less). For example, the iPad, a glorified iTouch (it is literally the same exact thing except it is larger and thus can sustain apps that the iTouch cannot), is seemingly useless for benefiting society. That is, it does not offer any easier or more practical means to accomplishing something that is today, in real time, hard, or at least harder, than a new technology could be. And so, in our consumer society, these technologies are unfortunately gobbled up by the public, and when a newer version of this impracticality comes out, the initial useless device is discarded, adding unnecessary waste to already existing, unnecessary waste.
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