Phonebloks- Tommy Arena

                Electronic waste is one of the fastest growing forms of waste.  People throw out electronic devices when only a small part of the device is broken while the rest is still in working condition.  This is an unnecessary amount of technological waste that really adds up. 

                Behold the Phoneblock!  Phoneblocks allow users to replace certain features of their phone.  If a screen cracks, it can be replaced.  If you want a better camera you can upgrade it.  These phones are very customizable.  The components of the phone can be clicked in the phone like lego pieces.  They believe that this phone should reduce waste.  There are skeptics though.  Martin Cooper, the inventor of the cell phone, does not even think it will make it to the market.  He believes that the phone will be too expensive and too unreliable.  Some think that the replaceable components of the phone could actually add to the waste.  Also some people think that producing such a phone would be impossible.  It looks like a genius idea but no one really knows if the phoneblock will be a success.

                I chose this article because it sounds really cool.  There are so many ways that the phone could be customized.  If it turns out to be a solid product I will consider buying it.  The only cultural information I could find is that this article is geared towards the upper class.  An expensive smartphone is not something the low income readers will care about.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/tech/innovation/phonebloks-the-smartphone-for-life/index.html