Intel researchers propose modular laptops and mini PCs to deal with e-waste, which enables easy upgrade and repair, promoting stability and user empowerment.
In a bold step towards stability, Intel researchers have unveiled a concept for modular laptops and mini PCs designed to reduce the increasing problem of electronic waste (e-waste). With an annual 60 million tonnes of e-waste, and less than 25% it is recycled, calls for standardized motherboards and interchangeable I/O ports can lead to a transformative change in ownership of consumer devices.
The research team, which includes Roberta Zon, Reshma PP, and Gurpreet Sandhu, says that modular design will not only expand the lifetime of equipment, but will also empower users with the ability to repair or upgrade their laptops. It originally aligns with the increasing “Right to Repair” movement, advocating consumer rights to maintain and modify its technology.
Intel consists of the divided motherboards divided into three parts, separate from the I/O port, facilitates easy upgradation and repair. The purpose of this innovation is usable to use a universal I/O board system in various platforms, probably significant cost savings and low design complications. In particular, the proposed changes for mini-PCS imagine the warm-swapable storage and repairable thunderbolt module, which will reduce the repair burden for the end-users.
However, implementing these ideas can prove challenging. To bring these concepts to the market, Intel will need to cooperate in association with partners such as Dell and Asas, a process that may take at least one year, if not longer. In addition, industry crowds for thin laptops often struggle with the practicality of modular devices, which prefer repair on smooth aesthetics.
While the purpose of Intel’s proposals is to set a new standard for permanent technology, they remain largely ideological for now. However, the company’s direction indicates in a promising future, where users can gain control over their devices, which can reduce both cost and environmental effects.
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