Green Livin Linc - The Lifecycle Concept Phone
Green livin at the Greener Gadgets conference, there were a lot of great ideas and opportunities for gadgets to really become greener, including product takeback programs, efficiency, and cradle-to-cradle philosophies. With that, we present Kaleidoscope’s concept for a greener gadget - LINC.
LINC is a typical touch screen smart phone with all the connectivity and features. It’s got a cell phone, a media player, a web browser, GPS, downloadable content, Bluetooth, wifi, the latest 3G network. LINC is leased to the user as a service, not a product. The user holds on to the device for about a year, and when the next generation of hardware comes along, the user receives a new LINC in the mail. The LINCs inform the user of their hardware upgrade, wirelessly transfer the digital account, and before being shipped back to the manufacturer, LINC informs the user of the next part of its journey.
LINC is to be shipped back to a regional manufacturing facility. The device contains valuable materials like aluminum, glass, and electronic components that the producer can harvest for re-use. Typically, mobile phones contain hazardous waste that goes into a landfill or are left in a desk drawer to sit in.
LINC is designed for automated disassembly. A directed radiant heat beam targets its internal memory metal latch, releasing the assembly. In one step, LINC automatically disassembles into its few simple components, glass, aluminum and its circuit flex. The glass and aluminum, not containing any paints or adhesives, are easily recycled to pure grade materials for immediate reuse. The remaining flexible circuit contains all the electronics necessary for the entire device. It’s full of hazardous materials, but it has been safely recovered for proper disposal. Many of the chip sets can easily be pulled for reuse. Components like the graphics card are out dated for LINC, but can be used in devices like portable gaming systems.
In one step, LINC automatically disassembles into its few simple components, glass, aluminum and its circuit flex.
Linc changes the entire paradigm of the production and consumption model today. If implemented, a design such as this could greatly reduce hazardous waste and improve environmental health by reducing e-waste. But Kaleidoscope also wanted something that is very desirable and in line with the kind of gadgets todays users expect. Something that targets all the key issues of today's gadgets and attempts to offer feasible solutions and start a discussion as to how Kaleidoscope could do better.
LINC is leased to the user as a service, not a product.
The Greener Grass is produced by Kaleidoscope, a product development consultancy in Cincinnati, Ohio.
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