|
Phonebloks Open
Phonebloks is a modular smartphone concept created and designed by the Dutch designer Dave Hakkens in 2013, primarily to reduce electronic waste. While Phonebloks is not the first attempt at modular design in a phone, it is notable due to the extent of its modularity and the attention and support it has gained. By attaching individual third-party components (called "bloks") to a main board, a user would create a personalized smartphone. These bloks can be replaced at will to replace a broken blok, to upgrade an existing blok, or to expand the functionality of the phone into a specific direction. Bloks would be available in Blokstore, "an app store for hardware", where users could buy new and used bloks as well as sell back their old ones. There is no plan to actually produce the Phonebloks design as a commercial product. Concept Hakkens graduated cum laude from the Design Academy Eindhoven in summer 2013 with his idea for Phonebloks. Phonebloks consists of a main board ont ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Modular Smartphone
A modular smartphone is a smartphone designed for users to upgrade or replace components and modules without the need for resoldering or repair services. The most important component is the main board, to which others such as cameras and batteries are attached. Components can be obtained from open-source hardware stores. This design aims to reduce electronic waste, increase the phone's lifespan, and lower repair costs. However, modular smartphones are generally bulkier and slower than their non-modular counterparts which may make them less attractive for most consumers. Motivation Environmental impact and ethical considerations Consumers may be motivated to buy modular phones to bypass non-modular phones, which are designed with planned obsolescence. Planned obsolescence, originating from American industrial designer Brooks Stevens, is a strategy of selling phones to be replaced rather than repaired. Planned obsolescence in smartphones prematurely shortens their life span ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
