Consumer technology does its best to make sure that products can be customized according to the taste of the user. But let’s be real for a moment. That brand new upgraded smartphone you just purchased has some great features, but the designers messed up some of what you loved about the last model. Well, what else can you do but wait until the newest model (hopefully) fixes the problem?
Dave Hakkens, a Dutch designer, has created the idea for a fully customizable smart phone that will never need to be replaced. Phonebloks is comprised of separated blocks that contain the various functional components that every smartphone has. The pieces can be removed, readjusted, or upgraded depending on the user’s needs and desires. The technology still needs some work, but Hakkens hopes to inspire a hope for change and a decrease in e-waste, where non-biodegradable electronics are discarded just for the sake of an upgrade.
To learn more, check out this article at Smithsonian magazine.
You can show your support for the project by participating in Phoneblok’s Thunderclap platform (which is about raising awareness, not money), available until October 29th.
Image courtesy of Dave Hakkens.