Computers have come to be an inextricable part of our lives now and we just cannot imagine a day without these ubiquitous computing units. Conventional computers are mostly made of non-recyclable materials and use up a fair amount of power to run. This makes them prime candidates responsible for the ever-increasing carbon emissions. So, green computing is the need of the day failing which the human race could go the way dinosaurs did, millions of years ago. That said, we at EcoFriend have devoted an entire list to feature the greenest concept computers we could lay our hands on.
Napkin PC
We kick off this list with designer Avery Holleman’s Napkin PC. This computer consists of a central module which supports several napkin-like touchscreen tablets/napkins simultaneously, thus ensuring a multi-user environment. A wireless pen enables users to operate these tablets. Using inductive technology to power the tablets or the so called napkins, users can wirelessly collaborate as the centralized PC handles all the processing and storage needs. This eliminates the need for multiple CPUs for multiple people and also the number of batteries which otherwise would have been consumed if each individual used a laptop computer. All these factors come together in the Napkin PC Concept to reduce e-waste as well as to use computing power more efficiently.
LOOP Eco Friendly Desktop Computer Concept
LOOP essentially means to come back to square one before going around again. This is precisely why industrial designer Jocko Chan has named his Desktop Computer Concept the LOOP. The LOOP is a desktop computer that is made mostly of materials that can be reused and recycled instead of being discarded. This automatically reduces the amount of e-waste that now abounds our cityscapes. Also, the LOOP features an innovative heat dissipation technique which uses a cooling fan at the back and big ventilating holes up front to help the computer stay cool by using significantly less amounts of power. Apart from reducing e-waste, the LOOP also reduces energy use by eliminating the need for producing new computer components every time a user wants to upgrade. This reduces the carbon emissions significantly thus making it a very eco friendly computer concept.
Lawn PC
Taking the green theme to all new heights, we have the Lawn PC, which actually features blades of artificial grass that sit on a CPU. Now, if you’re wondering what all that artificial grass has to do on the flat, plate-like CPU, wait till you hear what the artificial grass is made up of. The blades of grass, made up of natural cotton fiber, actually carry hundreds of solar cells which help harness the sun’s energy and convert it to 60 watts of electricity every passing hour. The renewable electricity will then be used by the PC to power itself. Meanwhile, the CPU too is made of bio batch plastics which decompose when discarded. Thus, the Lawn PC Concept gives “going green” an all new meaning with it’s highly innovative, yet effective design which adds a dash of greenery too.
Flower Power PC Concept
Allen Ginsberg would have never imagined the term that he coined, being used by a concept PC of the 21st century. Yet, that is what has happened with the Flower Power PC Concept being named thus. The Flower Power PC is actually a hydrogen fuel cell powered CPU that has a couple of projectors and a camera, all shaped in the form of flowers. One flower projects images onto the wall acting as the monitor and the other beams down a keyboard onto a flat surface. The projected keyboard uses gesture sensing which is picked up by the other flower, in which lies the camera. All these flowers in conjunction work seamlessly to deliver a green computing experience sans the pesky wires we’re usually used to. The Flower Power PC Concept is a terrific, symbolic concept which might soon become a reality given the rapid pace at which technology is progressing.
Compaq EOS Sustainable Desktop
Now, here is a unconventional desktop concept that you and me could use happily while reducing our carbon footprints massively. Industrial designer Cody Stonerock’s Compaq EOS Sustainable Desktop Concept uses biodegradable resins for its construction. Apart from this, the desktop also does away with all the fasteners by being designed in such a way that all the components fit seamlessly into each other. When you do want to upgrade, you will be able to ship out all the materials to your computer hardware manufacturer, in this case computer hardware major HP, after which you will be able to buy a similarly built new desktop while your older desktop gets recycled. Nice!
Mitra Solar PC
Many parts of the developing world, like rural India, face a severe scarcity of electricity. It is this fact which has inspired Indian designer Yogesh to come up with a brilliant dual power clamshell PC concept called the Mitra. The Mitra PC sits in the form of a cylinder which opens up in the form of a clamshell to feature a keyboard and an LCD monitor. The Mitra, when not in use, can tap solar energy as its outer body is lined with solar cells. The Mitra can also be hand cranked to provide it with power when the sun decides to go for a little vacation behind the clouds. This computer concept manages to cram in Wi-Fi, a USB port and even a projector for presentations. Impressive would be a mild word to describe this truly outstanding concept. Incidentally, Mitra means friend in Hindi. We’re pretty sure that the Mitra would find more than a few friends in the Indian hinterlands.
Evolve Laptop Computer Concept
Plug and play is the predominant theme on which the Evolve computer concept is based on. All the components of the Evolve laptop computer can be plugged in and out depending on the user’s needs. This laptop computer predictably uses recyclable materials in its construction with the difference lying in the way it is powered. Instead of relying on conventional lithium-ion batteries or electricity from the wall socket, the Evolve uses a LEES Capacitor Battery for a continual source of frugal electricity generated by chemical reactions. Designed by Vas Obeyesekere of Point Innovations, the Evolve uses a solid state hard drive which lasts longer and uses less power than standard hard drives. The Evolve’s body too is made up of corn based PLA with PCB board made from keratin fibers and soy epoxy. The screen also gets OLED treatment in a bid make it more energy efficient and easier to mass produce. Practical yet green, that is the Evolve Laptop Computer Concept for you.
EVO PC Concept
Cloud computing is big and the EVO Tablet PC Concept aims to take full advantage of the processing power that cloud computing brings to the table. The EVO PC Concept is a tablet PC that comes with a stand which is called the EVO Base. The EVO Base gives the EVO Tablet the power and connectivity to the cloud. The EVO Tablet PC will only have a low power processor and RAM to connect to the main cloud. This will greatly reduce the need for frequent processor or memory upgrades, thus eliminating a lot of e-waste. Since cloud computing is a great way of low power computing, computing resources can be used optimally thus reducing power consumption too. So, the EVO PC concept essentially uses the full power of cloud computing to save energy and other resources.
Solar Powered Notebook Concept
The solar powered notebook concept is actually nothing more than a sleek looking solar panel attached to the notebook computer. It is this stunning simplicity that gives the solar powered notebook all its virtues. Understandably, the solar panel will harness solar energy and charge the notebook computer’s battery. This power can later be used by the notebook computer for its computing needs. The notebook is equipped with a satellite linked GPS, internet access, and satellite telephone services, making it a universal communication tool ideal for usage in remote areas where electricity and communications means are scarce.
Clear Computer Tablet Concept
Japanese designer Wataru Watanabe has set out to design a computer concept with a clear design parameter: To reduce e-waste to the maximum extent possible. He has actually pulled it off quite magnificently through his Clear Computer Concept. This tablet computer concept uses a low power OLED display that conserves power while having an extended service life. Since the OLED works as a touchscreen, keyboards and other peripherals too can be eliminated. The designer has also used an open modular design with the option of changeable system and optical drive bay covers when a new system or module with different features and ports is installed. The slavish attention to detail doesn’t even leave the hinges alone. Instead of conventional hinges, a leather hinge makes sure that recycling is taken care of by mother nature. Now, that is a tablet PC that abhors any kind of e-waste.