That old mobile phone sitting in the drawer and weighing heavily on your environmental conscience? It could become a mini marine biologist and an object of curiosity for sharks, according to three researchers from the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science who have demonstrated a way to turn mobile phones into data centres to help conserve wildlife or boost other sustainability projects.
The impact of e-waste
Consumer electronics such as mobile phones are a notorious source of non-biodegradable waste, with billions of them ending up in landfills each year, where they risk releasing toxic substances like lead, mercury, and cadmium into the environment.
Not only that, but the manufacturing and distribution of 1.2 billion new phones annually to cater to the appetite of humans who replace their still-functioning devices once every two to three years draws massively on energy and natural resources.
But now an international research team led by the University of Tartu has published findings on a way to reduce the e-waste associated with mobile phones and contribute to sustainability efforts at the same time, for very little financial outlay.
Yesterday’s devices, tomorrow’s opportunities
The team showed that for only €8, an old smartphone can be turned into a tiny data centre that can process and store data for a wide variety of purposes. Examples include improving and optimising urban mobility solutions by using the phones to measure passenger numbers at bus stops.
“Innovation often begins not with something new, but with a new way of thinking about the old, re-imagining its role in shaping the future,” explained team member Huber Flores, Associate Professor of Pervasive Computing.
Colleague Ulrich Norbisrath, Associate Professor of Software Engineering, agrees: “Sustainability is not just about preserving the future,” he said. “It is about reimagining the present, where yesterday’s devices become tomorrow’s opportunities.”
Underwater monitoring
And for consumers imagining the future life of their old e-companion, one of the most exciting possible use cases could be the idea of transforming the phone into an underwater marine life monitor, counting different sea species.
The transformation process entails taking out the phones’ batteries to replace them with external power sources. This step reduces the risk of battery chemicals seeping into the environment. By connecting four phones together and encasing them with 3D printed shells and holders, the scientists created a working prototype ready for a brand new purpose in life, watching the tide roll away.
