Filed under: Palm
GOAL: To connect purchasing and end-of-life behaviors through cell phone leasing program.
o Increase user satisfaction with cell phones and service providers by giving them the opportunity to try out models before purchasing or during leasing.
o Reduce valuable electronic waste going to landfill or sitting in homes. (By ensuring cycling through leasing program)
o Increase pressure on manufacturers to make cell phones easier to repair and disassemble (shell, hardware, and software) by moving responsibility up to the service provider.
IN-STORE ADD-ON ENVIRONMENT
Adding in-store testing environments for customers to try models and
sign-up.
Next Steps
1) Use floor plan to design experiences based on the analogies below.
2) Test layouts and renderings of the 3 top ranked design and test in nave at CCA or public location. Role play and discuss findings with T-mobile employees at Van Ness St or Powell St store.
3) Use feedback to focus on one design direction. Use computer modeling to iterate.
4) Finalize design and decide final prototyping approach.
5) Test prototype and document more in depth.
6) Analyze findings and prepare for presentation of entire experience.
INTERNET MAIL ORDER EXPERIENCE
Internet & mail experience (story board of experience)
Next Steps
1) Collect questionnaires from screen prototype and packaging prototypes sent out and discuss feedback.
2) Further develop characteristics of experience to finalize storyboard.
3) Test storyboard along with in-store experience to get feedback on this part of the service.
4) Analyze findings and prepare for presentation of entire experience.
Filed under: Palm
STATEMENT OF INTENT
PDA’s are moving into the market of mobile phones as they merge into one product. Currently, mobile phones are updated yearly by US consumers . We would like to explore possibilities of reducing or redefining e-waste, attempting to minimize pollutants derivable from burning or land filling these electronic components. We will examine other materials or systems that are non-hazardous, recyclable, or allow for product re-use or disassembly.
10 Lessons Learned on Small Electronics or Related Waste
1) At places like CompUsa, people can turn in their cartridges for $2 off their next purchases. Most people end up bring them to the store to know which one to buy, then have the benefit of discount and recycle.
2) The young man that works in the area where they collect the cartridges doesn’t bring his in, he throws them away.
3) Ebay has made profitable reuse a more viable and convenient option for electronics. Many PDA users we surveyed used this as their means for reselling.
4) Most people we surveyed change their cell phone on an average of once a year, some people own more than one (this we found to be more common in Asian countries).
5) There is a market for desktop parts for people that assemble and upgrade their own machines. The nature of the desktop structure lends itself to upgrade and customization if knowledgeable.
6) Manufacturers like HP and Dell have take back programs for a small fee.
7) A major cost for take back programs is disassembly time. Increasing speed through active disassembly methods are being explored by Nokia.
In past, US e-waste was “recycled” by being sent to China and India, where informal dismantling and burning of parts was occurring to separate materials that were profitable. These towns attract new residents, many becoming terminally ill through their new enterprise.
9) “I didn’t know the sky could be so blue, until I came to SF”, Chinese student in US. This may be largely due to the manufacturing and “recycling” of American commodities.
10) Buyer programs that require returns of previous product for upgrade, like mobile phone service providers, are a built in assurance that the electronic device will be returned to the manufacturer(if the user continues with the same service provider).
