The Apple Press Info website stated this, “Sales for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus exceeded our expectations for the launch weekend, and we couldn't be happier.” Apple released the new iPhone 6 on September 19, 2014. In three days, over 10 million models were sold. From personal experience, I know that most teens and adults in the United States own iPhones. Apple is constantly pumping out new iPhones and other apple products. My question is, do always need the newest and best technology? Or do we need technology at all?
I know that most of us live and thrive on technology. Most of us couldn't go a day without our phones. But, if we gave up our phones and technology, would our carbon footprint lower? I believe that it would. I think that if we did not have as much technology in our lives and we were producing less technology, we as humans would be healthier and our earth would be healthier too. Humans would be outside more, talking to neighbors and enjoying the outdoo rs. Being outside and spending time with family and friends are two scientifically proven ways to be happier. So without as much technology, our precious earth will benefit, but so will we.

I totally agree with you on this. Although I would hate to give up my phone, it's always good to just put the phone down and actually hang out with people. Even with computers and other technologies, people spend way too much time on them. I think we do need technology to communicate with people far away or to research and get work done, but cell phones are just a luxury that people spend too much time on. By putting our technologies away, we could get outside more and enjoy the company of other people instead of laying inside and doing nothing.

I am also in your favor. The amount of iPhones released every year to meet materialistic needs is terrible for the environment. The considerable emissions coming from the factories that produce the products and fossil fuels burned to export them. Let alone the conditions faced by those in 3rd world nations where they are manufactured, because of little to no regulations on worker safety. This however, is an inevitable process until the majority of the population considers the environmental and human safety sanctions caused by the purchase of a single phone.

I agree. I also think that we have too much technology for no reason. I believe that people just keep buying new technology , even though they dont need it, just to say that they have it. I think that there is some that we need like cars and things like but coming out with a new phone every month is unnecessary. And that technology is ruining human interactions. All these kids are inside the house playing video games and on their phones. Instead they can be outside playing a sport or hanging out with their friends or something.

Hey Genevieve, I do agree with some of the points you brought up. It is very true that Apple does produce many new products and yes those products do use a lot of energy and carbon. However I respectfully disagree with your idea  "humans would be healthier (without technology)" technology has lead to some huge breakthrough. Especially Apple, they now have health kit which helps universities and hospitals collect data about a given disease. Technology does often inhibit a healthy lifestyle but some technology does now help you live a healthy lifestyle.

I agree with you 100%, there is a lot of technology and it is having an obvious impact on society, especially young children. I used to see little kids going outside and doing things or playing with toys and what not, but now every little kid I see has their head buried down in an iPad not being active whatsoever. Technology itself isn't bad, just too much of it

I think that you are right, if we cut the amount of technology in our lives we cut our carbon footprints for multiple reasons. But I don't think it is realistic to cut technology out of our lives and I don't think we should. Our society revolves around technology, and that I don't think that is easily changeable. And technology has done some great things in our society, including letting us do this project. I think we should allow technology to flourish.

If we were to cut out technology from our lives entirely we would not be able to produce our weather maps and be able to predict the massive thunderstorms, hurricanes and earthquakes. Technology is a part of our world today and we need to accept the fact that it is helping us make advances in both the medical field and in making weather predictions and we should find other areas to change to lower our carbon footprint.

Yeah, you're totally right. Those companies' commercials are really misleading our thoughts about the need for new technology. Sometimes we think it would make our life easier but it really don't. To have a lower carbon footprint, let's just give up our phones.

Your statement is correct but in part, it is a need that we all use right now and that some people wouldn't know what to do without it, however, there are things in terms of technology that we don't need like for example the thing you said about having a bunch of iPhones, like we don't need a new model every 6 months.

I like your point of view, we do not always have to have the newest phone there is. And technology takes a lot of our playtime away. There is this ad that says, "Screen time is taking away playtime" and I think this is part o what  you are talking about, and it is true, technology makes us not do outdoor activities which are much more healthy and fun. Maybe having a phone can be considered a need, but it can also be considered to not be a need. In my opinion, it is a need because we need it to communicate, and plus, it has multiple uses, it can provide you with maps, calculators information, it is a whole pack of necessary things put into one, that is why I think it is a need. But getting a new phone every year or every three years is a want, because we definitely do not need new phones, we can stick to one for a really long time we take care of it.