Academic Malcom Barnard begins his article “Etymologies and Definitions of Fashion and Clothing” with the definition of etymology, and then goes on to take a look at the various meanings of the word fashion. Through this scrutiny, Barnard offers value to the reader that other academics would, perhaps, miss. As wearable technology occupies a greater portion of the public’s mind share, it need also fall under greater scrutiny. Evgeny Morozov’s 2013 book, To Save Everything Click Here: The Folly of Technological Solutionism, provides a starting point for such a critique. In an interview with the Economist, Morozov defines Solutionism as the, “…shallow and simplistic attitude towards defining problems as problems.” More specifically, technology becomes a quick and easy means to resolving complex problems. In doing so, the application of technology oversimplifies a problem to the point of obscuring the issue at hand.
One example of this is Protecht BodyGuard Blanket. The company attempts to solve the problem of school shootings by offering a bullet resistant blanket. Protecht cites the increasing number of school shootings, and claim that the situation will only get worse. They also highlight the ineffective results of previous attempts to address the same problem. In the face of a serious issue that seems deadlocked, the BodyGuard Blanket is a simple and relatively inexpensive solution that can be implemented immediately. Leaving aside the emotional blackmail of the “think of the children” argument, gun control is an issue that strikes at the heart of the American identity. As the second most important freedom to the founding fathers, the Bill of Rights specifically grants the right to bear arms. Any question of protecting or limiting this right should be left to policy makers enacting the will of the people rather than a small technology company. Morozov opines, “As our technological infrastructure gets better, as it becomes easier to offload some of the problem solving from governments and agencies to citizens, they will no longer be presented as two equal alternatives. We will be relying on private means of problem solving through apps, and they will introduce a different kind of politics. A different kind of scale of politics”
If society turns to companies like Protecht to solve divisive questions such as gun control, then the problem will be portrayed as much simpler than it truly is. Products like the BodyGuard Blanket leave little to no room for nuance. Protecht, like all corporations, is looking to maximize their profits. Thus, they offer a product which aims to appeal to gun advocates and those who do not want to see another tragic outcome from the misuse of guns. When problems are painted in such broad strokes, it becomes harder to think critically. Because of this, Solutionism in the form of the BodyGuard Blanket does not address gun rights at all. The fundamental questions that loomed before society still remain; they are now reframed in such a way that society believes that they are no longer problems. More broadly, what are the consequences when society seeks solutions for public problems by private means? For all of its flaws, government is not constrained by shareholder pressure to maximize profits. Instead, government does not have to justify their decisions on return on investment; rather, they can pursue actions based on the public good. Our rights and responsibilities should exist because of public discourse and the legal process, not because some product was developed in light of Solutionism.
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