Vintage handsets might find a new role as miniature data centers, according to recent studies.
Every year, over 1.2 billion smartphones are manufactured worldwide. Even though these gadgets come at a high cost for buyers and impose significant ecological impacts during production, they have become quite fleeting in their usage period with most individuals opting to swap them out every couple of years to three years max.
But rather than gathering dust in a drawer - or adding to the world’s mountain of electronic waste - discarded smartphones could be reconfigured for a range of useful green applications.
“Often, innovation starts not with something novel, but with a fresh approach to the familiar, envisioning how it can influence tomorrow’s world,” explains Huber Flores, an Associate Professor specializing in Pervasive Computing at the University of Tartu in Estonia.
He is among multiple European scientists involved in this new project. study Published in the IEEE Pervasive Computing journal.
What are some ways to repurpose outdated mobile phones?
Converting old smartphones into mini data centers can be unexpectedly affordable, provided you understand the process.
The research team discovered that it can cost approximately €8 to circumvent a phone's hardware functions and reprogram it.
Initially, the researchers took out the phones' batteries and substituted them with external power supplies to minimize the chance of chemical leaks into the surroundings, as reported by ScienceDaily.
Next, four mobile devices were linked up, equipped with 3D-printed enclosures and mounts, transforming them into a functional prototype prepared for reuse.
What are some eco-friendly uses for outdated smartphones?
The research team’s prototype was deployed underwater to assist in monitoring marine life, aiding in the counting of various sea creatures.
Typically, such tasks involve a scuba diver capturing video footage and then bringing it up for examination. However, with the prototype, the entire procedure can be conducted autonomously beneath the water’s surface.
Moreover, numerous additional applications await a smartphone’s capability to effectively handle and retain information once its messaging days with WhatsApp have concluded.
These small data centers might also find use at bus stops, for instance, to gather up-to-date information about passenger counts. Such utilization could aid in better optimization. public transportation networks .
Repurposing smartphones is merely a small part of addressing the larger problems posed by natural resource extraction, high-energy manufacturing processes, and electronic waste. In essence, we must confront this disposable mindset and shift towards a more sustainable approach. circular model .
However, the study indicates a minor approach to meet the need for computational power using our current resources.
Sustainability isn’t merely about safeguarding the future," explains Ulrich Norbisrath, an Associate Professor of Software Engineering at the University of Tartu. "It’s also about reinventing today, turning past gadgets into potential for the days ahead.