Tools

Personal Tools

Personal tools contribute to waste in several ways. One largely overlooked wasting of potentially useful tools occurs because of tool redundancy. Enormous numbers of domestic utensils, hand tools, and power tools lie either unused or underused. In this state, such tools do not enter the formally recognized circuits of object disposition or disposal but remain idle or little used.

A number of factors can be seen to contribute to such wasting and redundancy of personal tools. First, there has been a marked proliferation, through duplication, of simple tools. Functionally identical tools are increasingly styled to appeal to differing consumer preferences. Changes of color, shape, surface decoration, packaging, and advertising are the bases of such differentiation. There are simply too many very-similar tools compared [Page 921]to the distribution of ownership. While many in the world have few tools, in affluent societies, it is not uncommon for households to own multiple unused duplicates of many personal tools. Second, the overdesign of functionally simple tools is apparent. Function-driven design and manufacture of tools has somewhat given way to the form-driven imperatives associated with consumerism. When styling predominates over ease of use, tools are often abandoned, either through domestic redundancy or disposal. Third, increasing tool differentiation is also apparent. The range and configuration of tools with very similar functional purposes has gradually expanded. For example, there are many different types of devices to remove corks from wine bottles, each working in a different way and each employing differing technological approaches. Such differentiation is not new. In the past, model differentiation predominated, for example, offering a range of pocket knives with a family resemblance but differentiated through the functions on offer, such as more blades. In the 21st century, conceptual differentiation is instead emphasized as manufacturers offer a range of families of devices with similar functions (such as pen knives, multitools, and pocket assistants).

The household accumulation of such tools can be marked. Tool redundancy is obvious in such cases; one can only use one tool to open a bottle of wine, one hammer when a nail needs to be driven, one Allen wrench to tighten a bolt, and so on, but many households own multiple versions of each. Finally, increasing tool specialization is apparent. Many traditional hand tools have been redesigned as power tools, and this technological elaboration is usually the basis of a promise of increased functionality and ease of use. While often welcome, such technological elaboration is often unnecessary. For example, powered screwdrivers can easily overtighten screws, damaging the head of the screw. Specialization is also apparent as new tools with novel, specific functions are developed. Such tools are often matched to new products such that there is a seeming symbiosis between the two. For example, many goods are built from bodies to which access is only possible through the use of specific and specialized tools. A corollary of such specialization is the discouragement of adapted use or functional improvisation in relation to tools; for example, there are a number of gadget catalogs offering very specific solutions to problems seemingly discovered or invented for the sole purpose of offering the solution. Very many of these tools remain unused, underused, or add to the quantity of items to be disposed of.

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