Researchers from the University of Tartu in Estonia have developed a way to repurpose old smartphones, chaining them together to build "tiny data centers" used for processing data on location and in real-time. According to the University, the team said that the most sustainable environmental solution is for users to hold on to their phones for as long as possible, but the fast pace of technological change and the fickleness of fashion means that this is easier said than done. So, they decided to think outside the box and decided to find a different sustainable solution instead.
“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,” said Pervasive Computing Associate Professor Huber Flores. What the researchers did was get four old smartphones and remove their batteries to reduce the risk of leaks and contamination. They then 3D-printed some casings and holders that will host the devices and custom circuitry to regulate the power. This setup will make it easier to reuse the base and replace the phones if and when they break.
