We are used to the concept of replacing our treasured smartphones every couple of years or less.
However there are increasing concern that this is very wasteful of resources and now a Dutch designer wants to change the whole concept of the way smartphones are sold and marketed.
Designer Dave Hakkens has come up with the concept of a modular smartphone where you just replace the parts you need when you need them.
Want a better camera, faster processor or better screen display…then just swap the old components for new ones while keeping the same handset.
He has set up a website phonebloks.com to explain his idea in more detail and gain support for the modular smartphone concept.
The site says: “A phone only lasts a couple of years before it breaks or becomes obsolete. Although it’s often just one part that killed it, we throw everything away because it’s almost impossible to repair or upgrade.
“Phoneblok is made of detachable bloks. The bloks are connected to the base which locks everything together into a solid phone. If a blok breaks you can easily replace it; if it’s getting old just upgrade.”
This is different, very different and it deserves a chance. There is always room for fresh thinking in the smartphone industry and this is certainly fresh thinking indeed.
What to you think of the idea?
Pictures: © Dave Hakkens/phonebloks.com