Manny James

Old smartphones can have a new life as tiny data centers

Researchers at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science introduce a novel approach to reducing electronic waste and advancing sustainable data processing: turning old smartphones into tiny data centers.

techxplore.com/news/2025-06-sm

#techsustainability #ewaste

https://purl.org/rzr#

purl.org/rzr/abandonware# #GitAbandonWare : If (...). This, simply, as a rule, tells you why things that have been around for a long time are not "aging" like persons, but "aging" in reverse. Every year that passes without extinction doubles the additional life expectancy. This is an indicator of some robustness. The robustness of an item is proportional to its life

― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile... great quote for #TechSustainability shared at pilledtexts.com/why-i-use-a-17

Pure Acetone
Pure Acetone

Title: The Future of Crypto Technology: Unlocking Tomorrow's Possibilities

In the rapidly evolving landscape of technological innovation, the future of crypto technology holds immense promise and potential. As we stand on the brink of a new era, several trends and advancements are poised to shape the trajectory of cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies.

### 1. **Interoperability and Cross-Chain Solutions:**
The future of crypto is likely to witness the rise of interoperability, allowing different blockchain networks to communicate seamlessly. Cross-chain solutions will enable the transfer of assets and data across multiple blockchains, fostering a more connected and efficient decentralized ecosystem.

### 2. **Enhanced Scalability:**
Scalability has been a persistent challenge in the crypto space, restricting the speed and volume of transactions. Innovations like sharding, layer-2 solutions, and advancements in consensus mechanisms are expected to address scalability issues, enabling faster and more scalable blockchain networks.

### 3. **Smart Contracts 2.0:**
The next phase of smart contracts will likely see enhanced functionality, security, and customization. Smart contracts 2.0 may incorporate advanced programming languages, allowing for more complex and versatile automated agreements, paving the way for a wide array of decentralized applications (DApps).

### 4. **Privacy and Security Upgrades:**
With an increased focus on user privacy, future crypto technologies are likely to introduce advanced privacy features. Zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and other cryptographic techniques will contribute to enhancing the confidentiality and security of transactions on blockchain networks.

### 5. **Tokenization of Assets:**
The tokenization of real-world assets, including real estate, art, and intellectual property, is set to gain prominence. This move toward a tokenized economy has the potential to democratize access to traditionally illiquid assets and reshape the landscape of finance and ownership.

### 6. **Integration with Traditional Finance:**
As regulatory frameworks become clearer, the integration of crypto into traditional financial systems is expected to accelerate. Central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) and collaborations between traditional financial institutions and crypto projects may become more commonplace, bridging the gap between conventional and digital finance.

### 7. **Sustainable Blockchain Solutions:**
In response to environmental concerns associated with energy-intensive consensus mechanisms, the future of crypto technology is likely to witness the widespread adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly blockchain solutions. Proof-of-stake and other energy-efficient consensus algorithms may become the new norm.

### 8. **Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs):**
The concept of DAOs, where decision-making is decentralized and governed by smart contracts and community voting, is expected to evolve. DAOs have the potential to revolutionize governance structures, making them more inclusive, transparent, and resilient.

### Conclusion:
As we venture into the future of crypto technology, the possibilities are boundless. The convergence of innovative solutions, growing acceptance, and a maturing regulatory landscape sets the stage for a transformative era in decentralized technologies. While challenges persist, the resilience and adaptability of the crypto space promise a future where blockchain technology becomes an integral part of our daily lives, revolutionizing industries and reshaping the way we interact with the digital world.

Stefano Marinelli

Every time I look at the drawers of 'put away' items, especially old cell phones and tablets, I see still-functioning devices that could continue to serve a purpose. Take, for example, the old Motorola phone my mother discarded due to years without security updates. I believe it's no less efficient than an old Raspberry PI - it even has a screen, good built-in WiFi, various sensors, a camera, etc. Yet, this Android terminal has been abandoned since 2018, and I feel quite insecure running software on it.

The European Union, often too focused on bureaucracy and not enough on the real world, did make progress with USB-C. It would be wonderful if they could mandate manufacturers to open up their devices once they are abandoned. I dream of being able to install an updated OpenSource OS (not necessarily *BSD, but at least Linux) detached from Android, or at least an AOSP version of Android, without resorting to questionable binaries from XDA.
Essentially saying: 'You've bought my device, I won’t update it anymore, but since the hardware still works, you're on your own but you can keep it running.'

My drawers are full of high-quality, still usable but abandoned devices. I'd rather use my old Huawei as a surveillance camera (which now has outdated and unupdated software) than any device sending my images to obscure clouds in countries with questionable laws.

I'm considering starting a petition – not sure if there are any yet, will do some research – but I'm fairly certain it won't lead to much. Planned obsolescence is a concept too ingrained in today's technology, and there are too many interests behind it.

#TechSustainability #OpenSource #RightToRepair #PlannedObsolescence #EuropeanUnion #DigitalRights #Technology #OSS