The Historical Backdrop

This concept isn’t a modern-day invention. It harks back to the 1920s, with the famous example of light bulb manufacturers forming a cartel called the ‘Phoebus cartel’ to deliberately reduce the lifespan of light bulbs. Since then, this strategy has seeped into various industries, subtly shaping consumer behavior.

Diverse Faces of Planned Obsolescence

• Technological Obsolescence: Example: A new operating system rendering older smartphones sluggish;
• Style Obsolescence: Example: Fashion trends that shift swiftly, pushing last season’s clothing out of vogue;
• Functional Obsolescence: Example: Appliances designed to fail after a certain number of uses;
• Perceived Obsolescence: Example: Marketing strategies that make older but functional models seem outdated.

Case Studies: A Real-World Glimpse

The Smartphone Saga: It’s a common grievance: smartphones slowing down or battery life diminishing conspicuously around the time a new model hits the market.

Fast Fashion Fiasco: The fashion industry, particularly the ‘fast fashion’ sector, is notorious for churning out low-cost, low-quality clothing intended for short-term use.

Consumer Impact: A Dual-Edged Sword

On one side, planned obsolescence drives continuous consumption, feeding the economic wheel. On the other, it leaves a trail of dissatisfaction, financial strain, and a culture of disposability among consumers. The relentless cycle of buy-use-dispose not only hits the wallet but also cultivates a throwaway culture that’s hard to break.

Environmental Toll: A Silent Crisis

The implications of this practice stretch far beyond individual frustration. It’s a global concern with significant environmental repercussions.

Legal and Ethical Quandaries

The fine line between fostering innovation and exploiting consumer vulnerability is where the ethical dilemma of planned obsolescence lies. While some countries have started to impose regulations, the global landscape remains a checkerboard of differing legal standings and ethical perceptions.

Empowering Consumers

As a countermeasure, consumers can adopt several strategies:

• Choose Wisely: Look for products with longer warranties or known durability;
• Legislative Support: Advocate for and support laws against planned obsolescence;
• Minimalist Approach: Embrace minimalism, focusing on need-based purchasing.

The Tech Paradox

While technology has been a catalyst in advancing planned obsolescence, it also holds the key to solutions. Concepts like modular design, where parts of a product can be replaced or upgraded, offer a glimmer of hope for extended product lifespans.

The Horizon of Change: Towards Sustainability

The silver lining lies in the growing trend towards sustainable practices in manufacturing. As awareness grows, the future might see a paradigm shift from planned obsolescence to sustainable and ethical production methods.

Conclusion 

Planned obsolescence is a deep-rooted practice with far-reaching implications. It’s a complex dance of economics, ethics, and environmental impacts. The road to change is long and requires a collective effort, but with increasing awareness and evolving consumer values, a shift towards more sustainable practices is possible.

FAQs

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What You Need to Know About SEO in 2023

1. Mobile-first Indexing: Google will start to prioritize mobile versions of websites, meaning that if you don’t have a mobile-friendly version, your website’s visibility will suffer. Make sure your website is optimized for the different devices it can be seen on and focus on improving its loading speed and user experience.
2. Voice Search Optimization: As voice searches become more popular, you need to adjust your SEO strategies to accommodate for this. Make sure that your content is clear and concise so that search engines can easily understand it when someone speaks into their device.
3. Structured Data Markup: This will help search engines identify the context of your website and give it the proper ranking. Use Schema markup to make sure your content is properly structured, and use microdata to ensure that search engines can understand your pages better.
4. Artificial Intelligence: AI will play a bigger role in SEO as more algorithms start using machine learning to better understand user intent. This means that you need to focus on writing content that is both relevant and useful to your readers.
5.Local SEO: More businesses are appearing online, which means that you need to make sure your website can be found in local searches. Ensure that you have accurate information about your business listed with the major search engines and create content specific to your location.
6. User Experience: Make sure your website is easy to use and navigate, as search engines are now taking user experience into account when ranking websites. Use different techniques such as A/B testing or heatmaps to ensure that your website provides the best experience for visitors.
7. Video Content: Search engines are placing more emphasis on videos, so make sure you include them in your content mix. Optimize your videos for SEO by adding relevant keywords and descriptions that will help search engines pick up on it.
8. Rich Snippets: Including rich snippets such as review stars or product pricing can help increase click-through rates to your website from the SERP. Use Schema markup to add these snippets and increase the chances of your website appearing higher up in the rankings.
9. Social Signals: With more people using social media as a source for information, search engines are now taking into account the number of likes or shares that pages have on social media platforms. Make sure you include links to your website in all of your social media posts and encourage people to interact with it.
10. Secure Sites: Google has been pushing for websites to have SSL certificates, as they provide a secure connection between the user and the server. Make sure that you get an SSL certificate for your website to improve its ranking on the search engine results page.
These are just some of the major trends that you need to know about in order to stay ahead of the competition. With the right strategies and techniques, you can make sure your website is optimized for search engines in 2023. Make sure to keep up with the latest SEO news and adjust your strategies accordingly!

Also Read: China will use blockchain technology to control construction

What will be the biggest SEO trends of 2023?

As the world of SEO continues to evolve, it’s becoming increasingly important to stay ahead of the game. 2023 will bring a variety of new SEO trends which will impact marketing and businesses everywhere. From improving website security and accessibility, optimizing for voice search, utilizing AI-driven solutions and increasing the use of video in content marketing – all these factors will become essential elements of taking your SEO strategy to the next level this coming year. It’s our job as digital marketers to keep up with the latest developments so that we can take advantage of any new opportunities. By staying in touch with industry-best practices and information from reliable resources, companies can position themselves for success in the coming year.

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Therefore, the offers and promotions that an online casino offers to the public are crucial when the player decides where to invest his money, after all, the better the conditions that the casino bonus has to offer, the greater the your budget to play your favorite games and who knows, even make a profit.

If you are interested in playing for real money with the best offers on safe and profitable bonuses, be sure to check out the site at casinos online confiaveis. For now, read on and learn how to enjoy online casino promotions.

Free Bonus

Because of the wide variety of online casino bonus offers and promotions that we see on the web, it is extremely important to understand how to wager using a casino bonus. A big misconception among new players is to believe that casino offers are 100% free.

This happens because casinos use irresistible advertising strategies to give the illusion that all bonuses are in fact free. However, when claiming and receiving a bonus of X value in your account, before you can withdraw any prize won in a game with that bonus, you will have to “pay” back the used bonus amount.

This process is called wagering requirement fulfillment and it comes full of little rules, and terms and conditions that change depending on the platform you are playing on. It is usually at this point that the conflict between earning money using registration bonuses and other casino promotions begins.

The most popular bonus

The welcome bonus, also known as the registration bonus, is one of the most popular promotions among online casinos. However, despite the great intention behind the gift, gaming platforms do not give this offer without charging something in return. For example in Friday Casino the best bonuses and interesting promotions all the time, go and get your big bonus. Usually the best and most advantageous registration bonuses come with some requirements such as the initial deposit. Some casinos even offer no deposit welcome bonuses, however, they tend to have a very small value and quite difficult requirements to fulfill. Therefore, in addition to evaluating the pros and cons of this popular promotion, it is important for players to also understand that the registration bonus is a one-time promotion that does not repeat. That is, once you have registered at a certain casino and claimed your registration bonus, you will never be able to enjoy this promotion at the same casino again.

Another relevant fact to help you make a decision on whether or not to play with the bonus is to review the expiry date of the promotions. Remember that the moment you claim your sign-up bonus the clock will not stop. Most welcome bonuses are valid for one month, however if the wagering requirements are too difficult it may not be possible to fulfill them.

Still, the vast majority of casino players who gamble for real money claim that the benefits of the best sign-up bonuses can boost their luck in the game, and at the end of the day, they outweigh any negative or challenging points that the bonus has. , therefore, many of them do not give up taking advantage of the advantages offered by this type of promotion.

How to make money with casino offers

Sign-up bonuses are very useful for those who are just starting to gamble with real money at online casinos and don’t want to spend a lot or try their luck investing their own money. Some sign-up bonuses come with irresistible gifts like the combination of game credits + free spins. Although casinos usually place some restrictions, for example, credit or free spins can only be used in certain games or slot machines, the extra value received is free money to risk betting on your favorite games without worry!

Using casinos and bookmakers to earn money is not something new in our society and with the popularity of online casinos increasing, this practice has become more and more common among players of all levels. Obviously, there are still many players who play casinos for fun, adrenaline and entertainment, but the vast majority are interested in making profits. In order to earn money at the online casino, every player must learn how to successfully choose and use the bonus promotions available on iGaming platforms. There’s no better method to boost your luck than to start playing for real money with a bigger budget.

Studying the terms & conditions and establishing the best and most competitive promotions on the market is a laborious task that requires time and dedication. However, if you want to enjoy the best bonuses, you should pay attention to these details.

Fortunately, there are a huge number of online platforms that specialize in helping you choose the best online casino bonuses according to your playing level and strategy. Nowadays, with a quick search it is possible to compare hundreds of online casino bonuses of the most varied variety, read reviews of experienced players about new casinos, and even receive free assistance/advice from iGaming agencies looking for the best casino bonuses on the web 24/7.

Check the tips

Regardless of the method you are going to use to get the best casino bonuses on the web, it is essential to keep in mind that one of the main strategies to earn money with bonuses at the online casino is to first of all check the wagering requirements and T&C of the offer that is being offered. claiming. Make sure that the amount offered by the bonus is substantial and sufficient to give you good returns even with the conditions imposed by the casino.

Remember that registration bonuses can be very profitable, however, you will only be able to enjoy the profits if you fulfill the requirements assigned to the promotion.

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The short answer is that it depends. Everyone has unique financial and practical conditions. However, there are certain basic guidelines for folks like gamers and PC builders, as well as some red lines that should be followed by everyone. The following article should help you decide whether it’s time to retire an old computer and upgrade to something new.

1. The most critical aspect is security.

Hackers and bad actors are continually exploring the code of any operating system in search of vulnerabilities. Companies like Microsoft then seek to address such flaws as soon as possible so that their consumers are not exposed to risks. However, technology companies gradually discontinue support for their outdated operating systems. Windows 7 was the most recent Microsoft operating system to lose support in 2020, and Windows 8 will be next.

If your computer can’t run a newer operating system, you should think about upgrading. A security compromise might put sensitive information, personal data, bank accounts, and credit cards at danger. You don’t need to have the most recent operating system to keep secure – Windows 10 customers should receive maintenance and security upgrades until at least 2025. However, when the most sophisticated operating system your machine can run is no longer supported, it is time to update. Something close to your previous gear is unlikely to be that expensive by then.

2. Individual component upgrades are less expensive.

Because desktop PCs are often modular, you may boost your rig’s capabilities by simply replacing out one or two of the parts with a more modern and powerful version. A new CPU or graphics card may greatly improve the performance of your PC and may be sufficient to bring it up to speed with a modern machine. Some improvements are also simple. Extra RAM must be clipped into vacant channels on the motherboard or replaced with bigger sticks. An SSD, for example, requires power and connection to a free SATA port.

However, PC components must remain compatible, and there will come a time when a motherboard will no longer be compatible with the latest RAM, CPUs, or graphics cards. It’s time to buy anything new or basically construct yourself a new setup at this stage.

You can still save money by using a desktop computer. Some components, such as solid-state drives, hard drives, cases, and power supply units, are likely to perform just as well in future builds as they did in past versions. Even if a complete overhaul is required, you may be able to salvage enough parts from your old equipment to save a substantial amount of money.

3. Computers live longer.

The design of a desktop increases its longevity in addition to allowing for upgrades. Electronic components can be killed by heat or have their lifespans significantly reduced. If a PC isn’t maintained clean, a layer of dust on the inside components will function as insulation, affect performance, and shorten the components’ lives even more.

A desktop is much simpler to keep cool. PC builders may experiment with fan designs and airflow in addition to cooling choices like air and water. Desktop computers are more easier to maintain and have more space within the chassis for heat to vent. If you have a desktop PC and see that your GPU is accumulating dust, give it a thorough cleaning using a PC vacuum or a fast blast of compressed air. Airflow is also impeded by laptops because of their size and design. Currently, I’m lying down and writing in a notepad that’s resting on my chest. One of the laptop’s air intake vents is blocked by my stomach, so if the fans need to turn on, they will have a harder time cooling the device. I’ve never used my stomach to obstruct the intake fan on my PC.

You need to think about parts like screens, batteries, and charging wires in addition to cleaning and cooling. Unlike other components, batteries have a shorter lifespan, and when a laptop’s battery stops holding a charge, the majority of its usefulness is lost. A laptop charging cable can get ruined after a few years of being coiled, bent, and twisted. This will need to be fixed with a soldering iron or replaced very expensively. A desktop computer can endure through a console generation or even as long as its operating system is supported, as was previously indicated. A laptop, on the other hand, typically lasts between three and five years.

4. When the moment comes, your computer will start alerting you.

My ASUS laptop is at least five years old and is definitely showing its age. The keys are breaking off, it frequently bluescreens, the Wi-Fi is unreliable, and the battery is practically dead. The battery problem is made worse by the fact that it will only occasionally let me know it needs charging, preferring instead to just shut off if I unintentionally leave the charger out for longer than two minutes. The charger I’m using right now is charger #2, and it’s being kept alive right now by a combination of bread ties and my terrible soldering.

None of these problems are new; the laptop was trouble-free for at least three and a half years prior to starting to malfunction. Those problems have progressively become worse to the point that I am forced to get a new one. I did choose an upper mid-range model when I bought the previous ASUS, so the specifications are still enough for the tasks I require in a laptop. But the old beast needs to be retired to a cabinet because of its unreliability and lack of mobility.

So when should you buy a new computer or laptop? If you’re like me, it happens when your current one becomes so unreliable that you can hardly use it any more.

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The system, called E-Inspection 2.0, will remotely monitor the entire process from start to finish. Based on temperature, humidity, and vibration data, the system will determine the serviceability and quality of construction modules, which are affected by a large number of factors.

E-Inspection 2.0 has already been tested in the construction of the Wong Chuk Hang dormitory, assembled from 1,000 modules.

The trend of using blockchain technology to improve familiar processes is growing. In Africa, Minexx will use blockchain technology to control key mining processes (tin, tungsten, tantalum, niobium and gold). Minexx’s digital platforms will provide legal proof of origin, seamless transportation, export and trade.

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Hints of the Always-On Display feature have been found by enthusiasts in the code of Apple’s new operating system. Three new frameworks related to backlight control, a necessary part of the Always-On Display feature, are present in the platform.

The frameworks mention the always-on display feature for the lock screen and the Springboard app responsible for the home screen. This suggests that the mentions relate specifically to the new iPhone and not to the Apple Watch, which has had this feature for a long time. There are also hidden flags in iOS 16, allowing Apple engineers to use the feature in test mode. The official debut of the next-generation iPhone is expected in the fall.

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According to the statement, the stacking mechanism will fulfill “four long-term goals.”

Increase network security and provide assurance to users;
Ensure that community members are engaged with Chainlink;
Generate and distribute rewards for stackers;
create a reputation structure for selecting nodes in decentralized oracle networks.
According to the developers, the first stage is to create “a solid and simple foundation to gather feedback.” Over time, the scope of application of stacking will be expanded, and its structure will become more complex.

A total of two versions of the mechanism are envisaged. The first is scheduled for release in late 2022. At launch, it will consist of reputation and notification systems for steaking participants. In the future, the team will connect additional features like slashing.

The initial pool of steaking rewards is expected to be limited to 25 million LINK. It is planned to scale up to 75 million LINK within a few months.

The v0.1 mechanism provides an annual reward for participants of up to 5%. Once the next version is launched, the reward for staking will vary depending on network fees and the asset lock-in period.

LINK quotes responded to the developers’ announcement with growth. Over the past 24 hours, the token has risen 11% and is trading near $8.4 at the time of writing.

Recall that Bank of America called Chainlink one of the drivers of the growth of blockchain funds in the DeFi sector.

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To start using a MacBook-connected device, the user will have to approve it. To do so, the OS will show a pop-up window asking the user for permission.

No power adapters, standalone displays, or connections to an approved hub are required.

If the user does not approve the accessory, they will not be able to use it. However, the connected device will continue to charge. The user can block this, though.

The operating system will only start asking for permission to connect for new accessories. Any accessories that the user connected before upgrading to macOS 13 will be considered allowed.

If the user is confident about the security of USB gadgets, they can disable the automatic locking. To do this, you can change the security configuration under System Settings > Security and Privacy > Security. Initial Configuration – Request New Accessories. Approved devices can connect to a locked Mac for three days.

Restricting the use of USB-C devices by default is an attempt to prevent the device from being compromised. After all, USB accessories have a chip into which attackers can write a malicious application.

Researchers showed back in 2014 that the only salvation from an infected and malicious USB accessory is to throw it away . After all, conventional security tools are powerless against such a hardware attack.

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