The Dawn of Modular Phones

The biggest problem that our world is currently facing is pollution, mainly due to human activity. Its effects are felt – right from global warming to cancer. We have to act against it fast to stop our own nemesis.

Apart from air pollution, water pollution etc., a major contributor to pollution is due to electronic waste. ‘Rapid changes in technology, reduced prices and planned obsolescence especially in case of computers & mobile phones have resulted in a fast-growing surplus of electronic waste around the globe’, quotes Wikipedia. The elements present in this e-waste are hazardous and carcinogenic too. In fact majority of the e-waste can be reused/recycled but we, the consumers nor do companies show much interest in it. 

True, it is easier to toss away an old phone and buy a new latest phone as the old one doesn’t fetch anymore value. Also true that, if a single component like screen gets damaged, the cost of replacing it is too high making it more economical to get a new phone instead. The old one that has all the components working, except the screen in this case, is thrown away or left useless.

There is a solution for this. At least in mobiles, which rapidly change year by year... 

Smart phones are getting ready to go modular.

The modular technology is getting ready to revolutionise the electronic world. Read on for a deeper insight...

 

So firstly,

What is a modular phone ?

A modular smart phone is a cell phone that can be upgraded through the attachment or replacement of discrete components. The user can add/replace the modules, the building blocks that make up the vast majority of the phone’s functionality and features. The modules can be easily and safely inserted and removed at any time, even while the device is powered on. The modules also have user-replaceable covers or shells, which  makes their phone look exactly as they wish.

Why modular phones ??

• Customers only pay for the features they use and can upgrade as needs and technologies change.
• Replacing components is less expensive than replacing the phone.  
• There is less e-waste because the phone can be upgraded rather than replaced.  
• When components fail, only the broken modules will need to be replaced. 
• User serviceability.

Project Ara, which is working on this technology is gearing up to launch a fully functional modular phone before this quarter.


Watch this video and learn more about it--->

A working modular phone hands-on--->

And more related posts coming soon....