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Line 1: − + − It should be noted that most of these types of obsolescence can and do occur naturally, without any intent to create the obsolescence. Obsolescence may be the result of true progress in developing industries, such as the computer industry in the 1980s and 1990s.+ − ==Types of Planned Obsolescence==+ − *''Obsolescence of function'': This refers to when an item is produced to break down or otherwise become non-functional in an abnormally short period of time. It may also refer to cases where an item is rendered non-functional but where the item itself still works: e.g. the creation of a new cell phone network that is incompatible with earlier cell phones. Obsolescence of function is sometimes simply shoddy workmanship (though not all poor workmanship is an attempt at planned obsolescence).+ − *''Obsolescence of style'': This refers to the obsolescence of items such as clothing, fashion accessories, and home decorating products due to changes in style. For example, if the fashion trend is for high skirts, low skirts will be rendered stylistically obsolete. In some cases, style changes are so great that old styles would look out of place or ridiculous. The clothing industry actually prided itself in creating obsolescence of style, as it was beneficial for sales (in [[Vance Packard]]'s book ''The Waste Makers'', several quotes from fashion industry admen and executives are cited supporting the creation of obsolescence).+ − *''Technical obsolescence'': This refers to the obsolescence of an older item caused by the creation of a newer item performing the same function, e.g. a digital camera that takes higher quality photos. While the older item still performs the function in question, it is comparatively inferior to the newer item.+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − One of the most egregious examples of planned obsolescence is the rechargeable batteries commonly contained in small electronic devices such as MP3 players, PDAs, and some cell phones (such as the iPhone). The batteries are often soldered into the unit, making replacement almost impossible for the average user (some companies such as Apple do offer battery replacement for a considerable fee). Some of these batteries also contain circuits that regulate and limit the number of charging cycles the battery will take before it fails to charge, limiting the useful life of the battery, and consequently the unit itself. This strategy is even readily admitted by the product developers themselves; a product development firm states, "Cell phones have proprietary lithium batteries that can be charged and discharged for a limited number of times. After the battery stops retaining charge it has to be replaced. The cost of replacing the proprietary battery is often about the same as replacing the cell phone."<ref>http://www.fast-product-development.com/obsolescence-management.html</ref>+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − Another example of planned obsolescence is items that warn the user when it is time to replace them, such as the fading colored strips on razors or the low ink warnings for ink jet cartridges. Generally printers will display low ink warnings even when a considerable amount of ink remains, and many printers actually stop printing once the low ink warning has appeared, regardless of how much ink is actually left. Some cartridges still contain more than 40% of their ink when they display a low ink warning.<ref>http://www.pcworld.com/article/152953/how_much_ink_is_left_in_that_dead_cartridge.html</ref>+ + − One kind of planned obsolescence has the same effect as technical obsolescence, but it is slightly different; sometimes a company will incrementally introduce features into a product even if it would not cost much more for all of the features to be in a product. For example, a new feature might be to add GPS to every new model, making the new one slightly better than the old one. + − Often, batteries for cordless power tools will change such that batteries for working but older tools can no longer be acquired at reasonable prices. This forces the consumer to buy a new tool set when in reality only a new battery is required.+ − + + + + + + + + + − + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + − An example of value engineering would be building a computer to last only a few years, since by then it would be superseded by better technology anyway. If the old computer were built to last 20 years, it would presumably cost more, which would be wasteful since the computer would be technically obsolete in only about four years (of course, this is negative for anyone who would intend to keep their computer appreciably longer than four years). +
Adding much needed update to the article. Much has changed since the last human edit in 2012.
'''Planned obsolescence''' refers to manufacturing or marketing techniques generally designed to artificially shorten the life of a product, either by making it actually useless, or appear useless before it would naturally. There are several similar but subtly different types of planned obsolescence.
'''Planned obsolescence''' refers to manufacturing or marketing techniques generally designed to
artificially shorten the life of a product, either by making it actually useless, or appear
useless before it would naturally. There are several similar but subtly different types of
planned obsolescence.
It should be noted that most of these types of obsolescence can and do occur naturally, without
any intent to create the obsolescence. Obsolescence may be the result of true progress in
developing industries, such as the computer industry in the 1980s and 1990s.
== Non-user-replaceable batteries ==
Batteries are the one component in portable electronics with the shortest life expectancy.
One of the most egregious examples of planned obsolescence are non-replaceable rechargeable
batteries commonly contained in small electronic devices such as MP3 players (such as the iPod),
PDAs, and cell phones (such as the [[iPhone]]).
Initially, products by Apple such as [[iPhone]]s and [[MacBook]]s were the only ones on the
market with non-replaceable batteries. Over time, other electronics vendors such as HTC and Sony
increasingly built mobile phones with non-replaceable batteries, [[marketing|marketed]] under
the ''unibody'' and ''premium design'' [[euphemism]]s.<ref name=benefits-replaceable />
In early 2015, [[Samsung]] Mobile, one of world's primary mobile phone vendors, transitioned
into the non-replaceable battery [[design trend]] with the release of the Galaxy S6 as their
first flagship mobile phone with non-replaceable battery, after being one of the final standing
vendors to build high-specification devices with user-replaceable batteries.
As a result of said trend, the batteries in many in laptop computers and '''nearly all
[[smartphone]]s''' released since then are not replaceable by the end-user, despite of increased
user demands due to functionality such as ''PowerShare'' (wireless discharging), photography and
videography, higher recharging speeds, and [[5G]] connectivity, all of which enormously stress
the battery.<ref name=benefits-replaceable>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-
replaceable_batteries#History Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable batteries'' §
History</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about
irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref> This forces users who wish to keep their device
functional longer to restrict their usage of advanced device functionality.<ref name=benefits-
replaceable-heavy-usage>[https://en.everybodywiki.com/Benefits_of_user-
replaceable_batteries#Weardown_from_heavy_usage Article ''Benefits of user-replaceable
batteries'' § Weardown from heavy usage</ref><ref name=muldoon>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=IiQAtLqczAk Kevin Muldoon about irreplaceable batteries] — Right to repair</ref>
The batteries are often soldered into the unit, making replacement almost impossible for the
average user (some companies such as Apple do offer battery replacement for a considerable fee).
Some of these batteries also contain circuits that regulate and limit the number of charging
cycles the battery will take before it fails to charge, limiting the useful life of the battery,
and consequently the unit itself. This strategy is even readily admitted by the product
developers themselves; a product development firm states, "Cell phones have proprietary lithium
batteries that can be charged and discharged for a limited number of times. After the battery
stops retaining charge it has to be replaced. The cost of replacing the proprietary battery is
often about the same as replacing the cell phone."<ref>http://www.fast-product-
development.com/obsolescence-management.html</ref>
==Other Examples==
==Other Examples==
=== False warnings ===
Another example of planned obsolescence is items that warn the user when it is time to replace
them, such as the fading colored strips on razors or the low ink warnings for ink jet
cartridges. Generally printers will display low ink warnings even when a considerable amount of
ink remains, and many printers actually stop printing once the low ink warning has appeared,
regardless of how much ink is actually left. Some cartridges still contain more than 40% of
their ink when they display a low ink
warning.<ref>http://www.pcworld.com/article/152953/how_much_ink_is_left_in_that_dead_cartridge.h
tml</ref>
=== Slight increase of functionality ===
One kind of planned obsolescence has the same effect as technical obsolescence, but it is
slightly different; sometimes a company will incrementally introduce features into a product
even if it would not cost much more for all of the features to be in a product. For example, a
new feature might be to add GPS to every new model, making the new one slightly better than the
old one.
=== Incompatible form factors ===
Often, batteries for cordless power tools will change such that batteries for working but older
tools can no longer be acquired at reasonable prices. This forces the consumer to buy a new tool
set when in reality only a new battery is required.
==Arguments==
==Arguments==
Planned obsolescence is commonly criticized by social critics as a wasteful attempt simply to sell more items. However, marketers, if they admit to using planned obsolescence, generally describe it as a means of making newer, better products affordable and available. For example, if a company designed its MP3 player to last 10 years, then a) it would cost more, and b), consumers would not update it with a better unit because they paid more for it.
Planned obsolescence is commonly criticized by social critics as a wasteful attempt simply to
sell more items. However, marketers, if they admit to using planned obsolescence, generally
describe it as a means of making newer, better products affordable and available. For example,
if a company designed its MP3 player to last 10 years, then a) it would cost more, and b),
consumers would not update it with a better unit because they paid more for it.
==Value Engineering==
==Value Engineering==
Some product design strategies that are indistinguishable from planned obsolescence are actually meant to provide a more affordable product to the consumer. These strategies are known as "value engineering", the purpose of which is to create the most suitable product at the lowest possible cost.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/value-engineering</ref> Value engineering may be considered a form of planned obsolescence, but it does necessarily carry the same negative connotation.
Some product design strategies that are indistinguishable from planned obsolescence are actually
meant to provide a more affordable product to the consumer. These strategies are known as "value
engineering", the purpose of which is to create the most suitable product at the lowest possible
cost.<ref>http://www.answers.com/topic/value-engineering</ref> Value engineering may be
considered a form of planned obsolescence, but it does necessarily carry the same negative
connotation.
An example of value engineering would be building a computer to last only a few years, since by
then it would be superseded by better technology anyway. If the old computer were built to last
20 years, it would presumably cost more, which would be wasteful since the computer would be
technically obsolete in only about four years (of course, this is negative for anyone who would
intend to keep their computer appreciably longer than four years).
==See also==
==See also==