Responsible Inventions
(desire for) more profits → (over) production → (over) supply → (aggressive) marketing → (over) consumption → waste / pollution / deteriorating quality of life
It is unimaginable how many unneeded / unnecessary / unwanted inventions and developments we have created.
Here is an exercise: can you (from memory) tell the difference between iPhone 8 and iPhone 7? Or between 7 an 6? Most of us cannot. This means the whole series of these flagship models could have not existed and nobody would notice. Unnecessary developments. Probably Apple could skip them altogether going straight from iPhone 4 (2010) to iPhone X (2017).
The same exercise can be done with cars and many other "objects of (momentary) desire". We need to slow down. And think more about prosperity without growth. Also stop investing in developments of technologies which are not wanted and doing any good.
Like Bitcoin. It is really hard to find any positive ingredient in Bitcoin. It has a carbon footprint of Argentina. It serves mostly illicit transactions. And does not do any good for an average person. We could easily live without it. This is why I completely do not understand the recent move by Tesla to invest in Bitcoin. This move - to me - ruined the whole "green" / "positive change for the planet" story behind Tesla and Musk. There is no grand good idea there. Only desire for fame and fortune.
We should be responsible about our inventions and engagements. Everyone: entrepreneurs, inventors and investors. There are still many hard and important problems to be solved. Sugar is an easy sell (but ultimately kills people). Try something harder instead. Save energy, reduce waste, improve access to education (this is probably the hardest of all).
"My key discovery from the COVID pandemic has been: how little I need" (...)"Unnecessary developments. Probably Apple could skip them altogether going straight from iPhone 4 (2010) to iPhone X (2017)."
ReplyDeleteSee, that's the issue here - you based your conclusion on your personal experience and reflections, which - nota bene - changed very recently, as we can read.
But majority of the population does not show that kind of thinking.
I mean it's all psychology and human nature - if you, as the Apple CEO, would decide you want to jump from iPhone 4 to X, you would:
- not get the feedback they were able to collect during all the generations between them
- not be able to keep customers' interest having such a long timespan between releases. So you'd not sell, and if not, why would you bother thinking about X version anyway?
But I definitely like and agree with your last conclusions - we have many movements putting much of a focus on individuals when talking about "green" and "responsibilities", but still too few when demanding changes from large organizations (corporations and governments).
Yes this is definitely my personal experience and learning curve :) I'm just so grateful for the pandemic to allow me to even go through this thoughts process...
ReplyDeleteNow to your points on "as Apple CEO" - so what? Do we need that accelerating progress at all cost? Also, the model gap would allow people to appreciate more the 4-to-X improvements. Also, note the real problem here is the hardware. Apple could have got very similar experience by continuing with interim software releases. Software updates have much lower environmental footprint...
Apple is - unfortunately - at the very end of the "responsibility" scale. They spend very little on basic research and recently most of their money has been used for share buybacks - a clear signal they have no idea how (or are not willing) to contribute to a better planet.
It all is in the hands of wise, far - looking governments, which are in the hands of well educated, responsible electorate...
In any case it seems education is the key here and it is a very long process... but we need to start somehow...
"It all is in the hands of wise, far - looking governments, which are in the hands of well educated, responsible electorate..."
ReplyDeleteWe are doomed then!
Agreed - the corporations need some kind of clear incentives to direct their focus on creating better future, not only to generate short-term gains.
The thing is the electorate is simply said too stupid (has to be) and if we expect to see any change here, it will take probably centuries.
Having a wise, responsible leader is like winning a lottery ticket. Typically leaders do whatever the electorate approves (or rather ignores). One way this may evolve is some countries doing better (wiser leaders and electorate) and some doing worse... Canada and New Zealand are good examples I think. And maybe - traditionally - the Nordics...
ReplyDeleteThere is one example I see and I am really afraid of it is that intelligent people mostly in developing countries are sucked by corporations paying quite wel. But these jobs are bullshit at best trying to satisfy wild consumtionism demand. At the same time teachers are recruited from lower IQ resources because these jobs are not attractive at all... Such system must deteriorate sooner or later. The knowledge somehow has very limited ability to spread. Lets imagine every engineer dedicated two weeks per year to teach people thier jobs - its unimaginable potential. Sadly its not easy to implement..
ReplyDeleteYes, there is a long history of societies being manipulated by elites...
ReplyDeleteIncluding what you are referring to. But also the whole food industry (based on sugar), diet supplements etc is influencing dietary habits of hundreds of millions.... This story - for example - is eyebrow raising and I think it still continues today.... https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/11/meet-the-father-of-the-fda-a-fearless-crusader-for-food-safety/