Phone Bloks: The Forever Phone

[snshijuptr]

This idea is pretty awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDAw7vW7H0c
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/2931-phonebloks

Basically for those who didn't click, it is a customizable, upgradable phone built on what looks like legos. The campaign is not to make the phone (though this would be a cool kickstarter), but to bring the idea to the attention of the big companies. It is setup to fix the problem of electronic waste.

[Daley]

I love this idea, but the realist in me knows it'll never get any real industry support.

Most of the e-waste happens because manufacturers and carriers want you to keep buying new phones, because that's how they keep you under contract spending more money. Genuinely environmentally friendly products ultimately hurts profit margins, and profit margins are what drives a consumerist-based economy. That's why most corporate efforts to be more conscientious about environmental impact falls more into the greenwashing camp when closely examined than genuine, meaningful change.

[GuitarStv]

I'm still not convinced that cellphones are more than a passing fad.

[Daley]

Well I'll be dipped.

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/10/motorola-announces-project-ara-a-modular-phone-hardware-platform/

Good thing I didn't say this'll never happen or I'd eat my hat!

Granted, there's a big difference between announcing a hardware platform and actually being in retail production, but still...

[jamface10]

I loved this idea when I first saw it as Phone Bloks, great to see they actually made some progress!

[Jamesqf]

I wonder, though, why it should be limited to just phones.  There should be a lot of applications for a device where you could plug in a CPU, screen, various sensors, &c.