Samsung's Smart TV, a computer-like television, can be upgraded by replacing a small box on the back called an "Evolution Kit."
We've been looking at several ways that electronics can be designed to last longer, from microwaves to cell phones. Now Samsung has announced a new approach to longer-lasting televisions. Their Smart TV, a computer-like television, can be upgraded by replacing a small box on the back called an "Evolution Kit," rather than replacing the whole TV. Upgrades will come out each year.
For Samsung, it's a way to sell more products; people who might not have replaced their TV might replace the kit. But for those who would have been getting rid of the whole appliance, this is a good way to give them a more sustainable alternative. Every time someone chooses to improve old tech instead of buying something new, they're avoiding huge environmental costs.
A bigger question: how many people use TVs anymore? For many, a computer (and maybe an external monitor, or even a projector) can replace a TV completely.
Image courtesy of Samsung.
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