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Reflecting on the Environmental Geography of My PS5 Controller

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               Reflecting on the Environmental Geography of My PS5 Controller   As someone who is twenty-one and part of a gaming group where everyone uses PS5s, I have realized that gaming controllers are more than just accessories, they are products with environmental impacts. My family and I have gone through many controllers over the years, and I used to toss old ones into a drawer or the trash without thinking about where they ended up. After learning about the materials inside them, plastics, copper wiring, lithium-ion batteries, and rare-earth metals like cobalt and lithium I now understand how our everyday electronics affect ecosystems, wildlife, and people around the world.   Why a PS5 Controller Matters Environmentally Even a small device like a controller goes through a global life cycle involving extraction, manufacturing, transportation, and disposal. Mining metals such as lithium and cobalt destroys habitats ...
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The Environmental Impacts of My PS5 DualSense Controller: Local and Global

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The PS5 Controller: Local and Global Impacts This week, I looked deeper into the environmental impacts of my PS5 DualSense controller . At first, it seemed like a simple item a fun gaming tool I use to relax but when I traced where its materials come from, how it’s made, and what happens when it’s disposed of, I realized I had never thought about the geography behind it. Its environmental effects happen both locally and globally. Production Impacts The controller is made of multiple materials: Outer Shell: Hard plastic ( ABS resin ) Buttons & Joysticks: Silicone rubber and plastic Battery: Lithium-ion rechargeable battery Circuit Board: Fiberglass , copper, nickel, and traces of gold Where do these components come from: From what we learned in class about uneven development and global supply chains (Lecture 1), it is clear that production affects some regions more than others: Lithium battery: Lithium is mined mainly in Chile, Arg...
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Introducing My Consumer Product: PS5 DualSense Controller

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   Introducing My Consumer Product: PS5 DualSense Controller Watch the video here: Why This Item Matters to Me Gaming is my go-to way to relax after work and classes, and the PS5 DualSense controller is at the center of it. I work 40 hours a week helping our family business and go to school full-time online, so when I see my controller, I see my time to relax and take a deep breath. It is more than just a gaming tool it turns on my TV, lets me stream shows, and helps me connect with family who live out of town when we play together online. Until this class, I never really thought about the environmental footprint behind something that feels so simple and personal. The controller is described and shown at the website Buy DualSense® Wireless PS5™ Controller | PlayStation® (US) featuring is sleek, wireless, and packed with features like adaptive triggers, a built-in mic, a rechargeable battery, haptic feedback, and enhanced sticks that make gaming immersive. You are able...
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What’s the Big Deal About a Small Plastic Bag?

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It seems harmless as it helps carry groceries, and by the time you check out your items are already bagged. But this past August in Wisconsin, heavy rain flooded people’s homes, and I saw firsthand through my family’s waterproofing business how something as small as clogged drains can leave families losing almost everything in their basements. In fact, Milwaukee experienced the largest sewer overflow since the Deep Tunnel was built, with more than five billion gallons spilling over 78 hours. Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel That is when I realized how even tiny plastic bags can become a big problem. Lessons from Battle of the Bag After watching Battle of the Bag , one thing that really stood out to me was how plastic bags clog storm drains, which can lead to serious flooding in cities. The video showed examples from places like Mumbai, India, where blocked drains caused streets to flood and killed hundreds of people. ▶️ Watch the documentary here: Battle of the Bag –...
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