The Modest Circular Smartphone vision was a joint project of TU Berlin's MoDeSt Project and the Fraunhofer Circular Design Lab. Inspired by „Cultural Probe“ user studies we made use of our department's extensive expertise in sustainable electronics and circular design to invent two iconic concepts for future smartphones. Both address environmental along with user challenges and are ready for a circular economy.
The Cube is a modular phone concept that embodies the principles of the circular economy. The customizable phone evolves and adapts to changing needs without requiring a complete replacement. Modularity allows the flexibility for repair, upgrades and an extended lifetime, hence the Cube never goes obsolete. The housing is made of a 100% recycled mono-material for easy recycling, inside are standardized, compatible parts to reduce e-waste. The concept consists of 4 easily replaceable and customizable modules that are connected with one sigle type of standardized screws. The biggest impact of a smartphone is in it‘s production, using it as long as possible is one of the most effective ways to reduce its environmental impact. Find out more in our IZM Real blog post here.
"Using a smartphone as much as necessary, as little as possible"
Modest Arch is reinventing the phone in form of a personal token that provides necessary access to your basic data and services and plays with the fact that we are always surrounded by various devices: connecting with any existing device it extendes it‘s functions to your needs. The ARCH thereby reduces material usage while in the same time extends the functionality of other devices. For a fluent function the extremely compact design offers remarkable features: 5G cloud based OS and a fluent adaptable interface reduce the lifecycle impacts further. MODEST ARCH is a concept that opens up opportunities for both scalable application solutions and new digital business models. Modest ARCH in IZM Real blog here
Read more about the background of the project in our RealIZM blog series on the “Integrative Circular Economy”. Professor Melanie Jaeger-Erben, sustainability researcher at BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, gives us an insight into the research methods used in the project as well as the different needs, expectations, and behavior patterns of smartphone users. | more info
Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration IZM