Phonebloks

THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS FROM STUDENTS OF JMC116. IT WILL BE COMPLETED NOV 20 2013. PLEASE SAVE ALL EDITS UNTIL AFTER THE ASSIGNMENT IS FINISHED. Thank you! :)

Phonebloks is an innovative idea created by David Hakkens that uses modular technology in order to build a cellular device that will be longer lasting in the hopes of sustaining our technological dependency without producing excessive amounts of waste. Instead, the phone will be made of multiple parts that can be exchanged and substituted independently instead of as a whole device. Consumers will be able to customize their device and support different brands depending on what they are looking for in a phone ^[1]

Purpose

• Stop the Waste

Electronic waste is a growing problem for a world in which the daily dependency and fascination with electronics is demanding constant technological progress. When outdated or broken electronic products (such as phones, computers, vhs players, ect.) are thrown away, the waste is considered "e-waste". As more products are produced and distributed, mote products are thrown away.

• Help the Earth

This waste contains heavy metals such as lead, mercury, cadmium, and chromium, which can all be toxic to our environment at high levels. PVC plastic, which some devices are made out of, release highly toxic dioxins and when e-waste is burned, brominated flame retardants generate brominated dioxins and furans ^[2].

In the US alone, more than 100 million computers are thrown away with less than 20% being recycled properly. The EPA estimates as much as 60 million metric tons enter landfills every year ^[3]. Also, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 8% of mobile devices consumed are recycled ^[4]. By creating a mobile device that can does not have to be fully replaced, that waste is reduced.

• Help Ourselves

Often, electronic waste from the United States is dumped in other European and Asian countries. In China, particularly the western city Taizhou, the affects and dangers of e-waste can be noted. Around 2 billion tons of waste is dumped in Taizhou every year and around 60,000 citizens work with recycling the products, some without any safety gear whatsoever. A study done by Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, China found that Reactive Oxygen Species, molecules that can strongly harm cells: Interleaukin-8, a protein that indicates an inflammatory response: and p53,a protein from a tumor-suppressing gene that activates in response to DNA damage, all acted up after polluted air from near the dump yard was exposed to human lung cells. Still, research on the long term effects of electronic waste is relatively young and we have a lot to learn. Until then, not only is the amount of waste a growing problem, but the amount of people unprotected against harm from toxic chemicals and e-waste is a growing problem as well ^[5].

Creator

Dave Hakkens is a 25 year old Dutch desiger who is credited as the concept creator of Phonebloks. ^[6] When asked how the idea for Phonebloks came to him, he claims "It started when my camera broke. I took it apart to repair it and all the components were good except the motor — the LCD, the display, the battery, the flash, the gears, everything worked. I went online to order the spare part but I couldn’t find it. I had to throw the camera away, along with all the good components." ^[7] After developing the idea for the Lego-like modular smartphone, Dave chose to upload his brainchild to the internet,in video format. The video was designed to be an open platform "...companies will see they can make money and can start working together. The next step is to crowdsource — to set up a platform to actually start building." ^[8] This kind of collaboration is fostered at Design Academy Eindhoven , where Dave Hakkens is a recent graduate. The school's website reads "Complex social, economical and cultural problems call for the creativity of people who dare to think outside the traditional frameworks. Our designers reflect on small-scale designs and they reflect on larger-scale themes, such as sustainability, well-being, healthcare, quality of life, public spaces and the contexts within." ^[9] Dave Hakkens is also the creator of'WindOil',a device that extracts oil from nuts and seed using power from a windmill. He also developed a machine that recycles plastic, called 'Precious Plastic'. Dave states on his website that all of his projects come from a desire to "try to make the world better by making things". ^[10]

Design

• Phoneblok Modular Concept
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  Front/Side view.

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  Removable bloks.

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  Front/Back view.

• 

Phonebloks’ modular design consists of a system that includes individual components for easy assembly, repair, flexible arrangement, and use. ^[11] The system has been used for products like cars, houses, and computers. Phoneblocks’ is the first publicly know concept for a modular phone. The phone was design to reduce e-waste and to construct an open modular platform. It’s comprised of small individual bloks that have a specific propose. The bloks are connected to a base which locks everything together into a solid phone. ^[12]

• Other Modular Systems
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  Automobiles.

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  Modular Houses.

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  Computers.

Future

Phonebloks founder Dave Hakkens has moved forwards with the development of modular phones and met with companies interested in collaborating on the project. Dave decided to work with Motorola because their innovation team has been working in-house on a modular phone concept, Project Ara. This innovation will create an open modular platform for independent and large companies to design and sell their bloks. An alpha release is tentatively set for winter of 2013. [1]

References