Death by iPhone

            Progress–That is what we as Americans, and to an even larger extent, humans strive to achieve.  People as a whole have adopted a mentality of overcoming every obstacle and improving all that is outdated.  In fact the world has improved so dramatically in the past fifty years that now people are provided with tools and resources that allow them to accomplish a great deal more and more quickly than that of our predecessors.  Examples of this can be seen everywhere in our lives; from how we communicate to how we learn and even how we brush our teeth and take care of our bodies.  Technology has had a fairly bad reputation throughout history for a variety of reasons.  This is not hard to believe considering how devastating these technological improvements can be when misused or created for the wrong reasons ie. weapons, and drugs.  It is apparent how the last two examples might be considered harmful or irresponsible, but what about IPhones, IPads, or other pieces of technology that were created to make life more efficient and convenient?  Do we have a certain responsibility for the effects of these creations?

            One of the most recent improvements in technology came in the revolutionary IPad.  The IPad is one of those pieces of technology that has almost limitless potential.  With an IPad text books might become outdated, less school products will have to be manufactured and students have the possibility of having a more complete way in which to store, collect, and review information than ever before, and this is just its potential with education!  You might be wondering why in the world schools have not mandated everyone get an IPad for school yet, but there are also potential problems with the IPad.  Since the IPad has so many capabilities and possible functions the question arises whether or not it will present itself to be to big of distraction for students to handle or not.  Due to the subjective nature of the IPad universities across the nation have begun conducting research on the subject.  In fact “OSU’s Spears School of Business, are leading the Apple iPad student pilot initiative, in which 125 students in five different courses will receive iPads” (http://www.okgazette.com/article/10-06-2010/Universities_are_testing_the_iPad_s_value_in_class_but_will_students_use_the_technology_correctly.aspx).  It is obvious that schools recognize the potential of the IPad but how many people have recognized the danger of such a demand for products like the IPhone or IPad?  Ten workers at one of the largest electronic manufacturing companies, one that produces and manufactures IPhones and IPads, have reportedly committed suicide.  There have been a variety of theories as to why workers are killing themselves.  These include that the working conditions are too harsh, the wages are too low, and that people are using suicide as an escape from their personal problems.  Numerous independent studies are now being conducted at the factory where the deaths have occurred.  The chairman of the controlling company has issued multiple statements to both the workers and the public about his concerns so far. 

            All of the evidence leads us to the conclusion that the growing demand for new technology and the reported suicides are directly linked.  Whether the deaths are caused by poor working conditions or poor wages is irrelevant when deciding if we, the consumers, of these goods are actually responsible for the unfortunate fate of these people.  If it is decided that we, the consumers, have contributed to this tragic situation then I believe that we, as educated buyers, have a moral obligation to making sure that no one’s life is negatively impacted by our purchases.  The question everyone must ask themselves when considering this problem is whether or not progress is worth the lives of innocent individuals or not.  I personally believe, and hope everyone who reads this agrees, that progress for the sake of progress is unnecessary and until we have all of the information we must not only be knowledgeable but take responsibility for our actions and help improve the state of the workers lives.