Upgrade Me: A BBC documentary I spotted, presented by poet Simon
Armitage, about the phenomenon of rapidly changing technology requiring
regular "upgrades" and what this says about modern life and materiality,
including recent concepts of the disposable nature of material
belongings, even expensive gadgets. Armitage even describes
"excavating" a drawer full of "old", seemingly obsolete technology.
Catch it here on BBC Iplayer (in the UK) for the next week:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00n1hwj/Upgrade_Me/
Description/website here http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00n1hwj
"Poet and gadget lover Simon Armitage explores people's obsession with
upgrading to the latest technological gadgetry.
Upgrade culture drives millions to purchase the latest phones,
flatscreen TVs, laptops and MP3 players. But is it design,
functionality, fashion or friends that makes people covet the upgrade,
and how far does the choice of gadgets define identity? Simon journeys
across Britain and to South Korea in search of answers."
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