<p>Can we really call it progress when it creates so much waste? What if your phone — the one you’re using right now — was your last phone? Take a good look at it and imagine using it for the rest of your life. Could it even last that long? Could you? Probably not. Today I want to think about what that means. What happens to a planet and its people when technological progress is measured in product cycles. And what happens when there's no balance sheet to account for the other side of that — when every new product leaves billions of products and accessories and packaging behind…</p><br><p><strong>Show Notes</strong></p><ul><li><a href="http://66.media.tumblr.com/107724d57ad3884a0714b0365b91d96d/tumblr_ngs91yn5M21ta1bw6o1_400.png" target="_blank">My first cellphone</a></li><li><a href="https://cellphoneforums.net/phonedb/images/Siemens_C56_1.jpg" target="_blank">My second cellphone</a></li><li>This clip ended up on the cutting room floor, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vurEe3-xgNw" target="_blank">here's Derek Zoolander's tiny phone</a></li><li>You can learn more about the Agbogbloshie landfill by reading <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agbogbloshie" target="_blank">its Wikipedia page</a>, looking at <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3049457/Where-computer-goes-die-Shocking-pictures-toxic-electronic-graveyards-Africa-West-dumps-old-PCs-laptops-microwaves-fridges-phones.html" target="_blank">these photographs</a>, or watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axYKPbr9_MA" target="_blank">this documentary</a>. Please watch it!</li><li>You can learn more about the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Pacific_garbage_patch" target="_blank">Great Pacific Garbage Patch</a> here.</li><li>"The Victims of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzdxOOyhUPY" target="_blank">a clip from 60 Minutes</a></li><li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CD-saqg3dLk" target="_blank">Project Ara Demo</a> at Google IO 2015</li><li><a href="https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/2/12775922/google-project-ara-modular-phone-suspended-confirm" target="_blank">Google Cancels Project Ara</a></li><li><a href="https://shop.fairphone.com/" target="_blank">The Fairphone</a></li><li><a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_662_-_danny_boyle" target="_blank">Danny Boyle interviewed by Marc Maron</a></li></ul><p><strong>Music</strong></p><p>All music used in this episode was independently produced by <a href="https://rbeny.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">r beny</a> and licensed by Design Tomorrow for non-commercial use.</p><ul><li><em>Felt</em></li><li><em>Fall Creek Unit</em></li><li><em>Formation Process</em></li><li><em>Novation Peak</em></li><li><em>Mariposa</em></li><li><em>Alluvial</em></li><li><em>Natoma</em></li><li><em>Spindle</em></li><li><em>Illumination Ceremony</em></li></ul><p><strong>Credits</strong></p><p>Design Tomorrow is produced by Chris Butler at the Tomorrow office in Durham, NC.</p><br><p>You can follow the show on Twitter @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/dsgntmrrw" target="_blank">dsgntmrrw</a>. You can visit the show's website at <a href="http://www.designtomorrow.co" target="_blank">designtomorrow.co</a>, and you can email me at chris @ designtomorrow.co.</p><br><p>Thanks for listening, and remember, what we do and think today can create a better tomorrow.</p><br /><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>
