The “Smarter Phone“, which is just a concept right now, would allow users to easily upgrade or repair it by changing key modules. Your phone currently has a 5MP camera, and you’ll like to upgrade for a 12MP. No problem, just replace the camera module. We’re now in 2016. The quad core processor in your smartphone feels really slow, and memory is tight, so you’d like to replace it with the latest Exynos 7 20-core processor with extra-large.big.medium.little.tiny processing technology, and finally get 8GB RAM. You can do so by just updating the CPU module, and on and on.

Basically, your smartphone would be just as upgradeable as your PC, which is probably timely since in a couple of years, your phone may become your PC. This concept designed by Bernat Lozano (Product Designer), and Rocío García (Architect & Product Designer), would help save consumers’ money, and reduce e-waste, as they nicely explain in the video below.

It’s an interesting concept, but in reality this may be challenging to implement. First, over the years, standards may change, and you may not be able to get the very latest feature without having to replace the phone. Second, you’ll need compatibility between all those parts, as well as companies and people committed to provide software support for the different modules over several years (e.g. 10 years). The device shown in the video appears to be a bit bulky, but it might be possible to improve it. There are some ribbon cables to connect different modules which are not shown here, and this may also become an issue for end-users has insertion is not always that easy. What do you guys (and girls) think?

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