This week I focused on learning about the life cycle of electronics and how they affect people and the environment. I watched several videos about electronic waste, including the PBS segment and E-Wasteland, and read “Your phone was made by slaves”. These assignments helped me understand that electronic devices have a much longer story than I ever realized. I also completed my Game Boy Advance SP project by researching where its components came from, creating a world map in Flourish, building a TimelineJS timeline about its life, and imagining its afterlife through recycling.
As I went through the material, I kept thinking about how often we replace electronics without considering what happens before or after we own them. I had never really thought about where the parts in my Game Boy or phone came from or the working conditions of the people who helped make them. Reading about forced labor and watching videos about e-waste made me appreciate how connected technology is to global issues such as human rights and environmental sustainability.
Another major part of this week was reading and discussing modern slavery and its connection to technology. Through the readings from Blood and Earth and the discussions in Perusall, I learned that many of the electronics we use every day rely on materials that may come from places where workers face unsafe conditions or even forced labor. The assignments made me think more critically about where my devices come from and how global supply chains affect both people and the environment. Before this week, I rarely considered the human cost behind the technology I use, but these activities helped me better understand the importance of ethical sourcing and corporate responsibility. I think we as humans need to be more humble!
One of the biggest obstacles I encountered was learning how to use Flourish and TimelineJS. At first, I struggled to create the map correctly and understand how to organize my data, but after working through the steps, I was able to complete both visualizations successfully. These projects also reinforced what I learned earlier in the course about digital storytelling. Instead of simply writing about my Game Boy, I was able to tell its story visually through maps, timelines, and a narrative.
Going forward, I think I will pay more attention to where my electronics come from and how they are recycled. I also want to continue improving my ability to use digital tools like Flourish and TimelineJS because they are useful ways to present information in a more engaging format.
Overall, I would give myself an A for this week. I completed all of the assignments, learned several new digital storytelling tools, and gained a better understanding of the environmental and social impacts of the technology I use every day. Or maybe a B because I know a lot of those Gameboy Dates are not accurate but close enough.
