Although I blanch at the overall idea of Greener Gadgets, it is encouraging that the sponsors of this year’s Conference recognize that what they are promoting is only relatively better that what is now available in the marketplace. A couple of years ago, this conference would almost certainly have been advertised as Green Gadgets. The program itself is not so discerning with sessions on MEASURING YOUR HUE OF GREEN and GREEN DESIGN FOR GOOD. Maybe in a few years, these folks will recognize that gadgets are part of the problem, not the solution. It is probably too much to expect technologically adept innovators to question the contribution of the fruits of their genius to the hyperconsumerism that ironically leads to the need to produce greener gadgets and so on and on in a ever-tightening circle.
Rube Goldberg drainage system image courtesy miniature brainwave.