Better, it would be great if my earplugs were still loadable and able to link without their own business. That can lead to bulging earbuds and/or extra components, but it would enable me to use my otherwise functioning earbuds.
There is value in a gadget that is able to “work, even when it fails”, which is one of the principles that the Calm Tech Institute applies to its certifications and teachings around the design of man -oriented gadget.
Amber Case, founder of the Calm Tech Institute, suggested universal earbuds loading as a possible solution to problems such as mine. She compared patented cases with a special gas station to find a compatible pump for your car. She said:
… Many companies have made a few business missteps and found it impossible to satisfy both quarterly growth and customer loyalty. Your perfect functional earbuds are e-waste about one missing component how many companies should keep track of, cannot look for a long term and have problems maintaining production after specific dates.
Case pointed to companies such as Bosch that, in contrast to lifelong customer support, used as a competitive advantage and a way to stimulate better profit by stimulating higher prices, customer retention and word of mouth. She added:
There are other family businesses that can offer product support for years, but they are very stable, multigenerational and they are not going to publicly or try to work with quarterly reports. They may also not get newspaper heads, but they will be there when this flash in the panstypes turn to the dust they came from.
Back to the drawer
I asked EPOs about the environmental implications of closing the gaming company after three years. The business representative said:
As part of the transition away from our gaming company, we have worked to guarantee a responsible outcome and to maintain support for existing customers. We always want to minimize waste and, where possible, maximize usability within the scope of technical and logistics feasibility.
That is little comfort for the earplugs that will probably return to their lonely drawer while I consider my limited options. Because a company cannot support a decent product for a sufficient amount of time, I am sticking to a fluctuating cable for music while I jogg for a while.
