Self-healing electronics could work longer and reduce waste

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Self-healing electronics could work longer and reduce waste · 2

scarp · 4507 days ago

From the article:

> A team of University of Illinois engineers has developed a self-healing system that restores electrical conductivity to a cracked circuit in less time than it takes to blink. Led by aerospace engineering professor Scott White and materials science and engineering professor Nancy Sottos, the researchers published their results in the journal Advanced Materials. <

The Terminator looms just over the hill.

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lessismore · 4507 days ago · link ·

To be honest, most of the electronics are already relatively long lasting. It is this notion of keeping up with the Joneses and having the latest and greatest that is causing so much electronic waste.

My 2012 resolution will be not to upgrade any of my electronics unless they break and cannot be repaired.

+discuss+discuss

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scarp · 4507 days ago · link ·

I think more electronics should be designed in such a way that upgrading them is simple and easy. Instead of coming out with a new iPad every year, simply come out with upgraded component kits that pop in and out like SD cards or batteries.

I'm not an engineer so I don't know how viable that is for small electronics with packed insides, but I do remember a conceptual computer design from the early to middle 2000s that had easily swappable "modules" for parts like the motherboard, hard drive, etc., but obviously (and unfortunately) it didn't catch on.

In any case, throwing out a whole device just because its insides were slightly modified is extremely wasteful. Nothing is built to last anymore because manufacturers know that consumers will likely upgrade to something better in a year or two.