TEXT 4 Planned Obsolescence PDF

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Texto en inglés sobre la obsolescencia planificada...

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TEXT 4 - Planned Obsolescence

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Planned obsolescence is a highly contentious issue that lies at the heart of some of the most important debates on consumerism, global sustainability and industrial design. Having first emerged as a major feature of the American economy in the 1950s, planned obsolescence is based on the concept of intentionally limiting the life of products so that consumers are manipulated into consuming more – an approach that continues to form a key part of the strategies of many large manufacturing companies. There are two strongly conflicting views on the morality of planned obsolescence. Advocates claim that it keeps workers (and designers) in employment, is essential to economic growth and is ultimately beneficial to society as a whole. Opponents of planned obsolescence claim that the manipulation of consumers is insidious, that the value for money offered by limited-life products is poor, and that the waste created by their premature replacement is environmentally ruinous. An early and notable opponent of planned obsolescence was Vance Packard (b. 1941), who wrote the seminal book The Waste Makers (1960), in which he identified the three principal spheres of obsolescence – function, quality and desirability. Functional obsolescence arises when a new product appears that is perceived to do a better job than its predecessors. The obsolescence of quality, which is directly related to the physical durability of a product, has historically been achieved by manufacturers building in to products key components that have been designed to fail after a given amount of time. White goods, or domestic appliances, are particularly prone to this type of “built-in obsolescence”, with, in most cases, the replacement of the entire unit being more cost-effective than the replacement of the defective component(s). The obsolescence of desirability operates mainly through changes in the appearance of products, fashion and consumer opinion, all of which are driven by styling and/or advertising strategies.

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As early as the 1920s, the chairman of General Motors, Alfred Sloan, recognized that aesthetics would play an increasingly important role in the automotive market and instigated a system of annual stylistic changes so as to minimize the aesthetic durability of cars. While there are clearly good economic arguments against the supposed social benefits of planned obsolescence, the environmental argument is even more

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compelling, especially given the urgency of the need to take meaningful steps toward achieving global sustainability. Making products more durable reduces the throughput of energy and materials, lowers consumption of finite resources, cuts emissions of pollutants (including greenhouse gases) and produces less residual waste. By doubling the life span of products, their net environmental impact can be halved. Making-less-last-longer is not only good for the environment, it also maximizes value for money and convenience for the consumer. 1. According to the text, answer the questions or say if the statements are true or false.

a) Most theoreticians agree on the necessity of planned obsolescence. b) Planned obsolescence affects the environment in a very limited way. c) Washing-machines are among those products especially prone to planned obsolescence. d) Alfred Sloan, chairman of GM, was a notable opponent of planned obsolescence. e) Economic arguments against planned obsolescence greatly outweigh any other consideration. f) Making products be durable increases energy savings. g) Functional obsolescence happens because a newer, better product is created. 2. Find synonyms or similar expressions in the text.

appeared forced president acknowledged reason Nature reducing opinions

fundamental obtained home (adj.) cheaper enemy method characteristics

3. Match the antonyms choosing one from A and from B.

A: around, double, emerge, huge, increase, minimize, opponent, planned, prone, work B: cut, disappear, exactly, halve, impervious, maximize, proponent, spontaneous, tiny, unemployment 4. Word-formation & phrases. Suffixation:

NOUN/VERB + -ion, -er, -ment, -ance: --> NOUN: manipulation; consumer, manufacturer; employment, replacement; appearance NOUN + -al, -ary, -ic -> ADJECTIVE: environmental, historical

NOUN/ADJECTIVE + -ism, -ist -> NOUN: consumerism NOUN/ADJECTIVE + -ize -> VERB: minimize, maximize VERB + -ing -> NOUN: advertising, styling ADJECTIVE + -ity --> NOUN: desirability, durability, morality, sustainability

5. Word-formation exercise.

a) Suffixes consume (n.x2)  sustain (n.) 

b) Compounds

replace (n.) 

man 

obsolete (n.) 

put 

aesthetic (n.) 

house 

increase (adj.) 

life 

profit (adj.)(n.) 

built...