Methods in Design Research & Practice jasmine

Proposal for Unwanted Electronic Service
Chan Tsz Man, Jasmine (S3121886)
Keywords
Consumer Electronic Waste/ Product Life Cycle/ Recycle/ Toxic
Material/ Environment/ Scenarios
Abstract
Electronic Waste (E-waste) is one of the problem occur in the age of
Modernization. Electronic product easily eliminate from our daily life.
Unwanted Electronic Service is providing a service for people who want
to get rid of their unwanted electronic product.
UES will manage the unwanted electronic in several ways, which is give
an operate computer to local family, school or nonprofit company; or
to disassemble it into parts and go back to production stream as raw
material.
There are no ways to stop the growing of electronic product, since
they are part of our life, which always need improvement. However,
the down side of it is producing lost of e-waste that will harm our
earth. UES is helping us to create the electronic industry
manufacturing in a Cradle-to-Cradle way.
Introduction
Sales of Computer, mobile Phone and Digital Cameras have all
increased in recent years. The electronic product do not use till the
end of its life. The reason is people normally get a new one in stead
repair it, since it is more continence and cost-effective. This result in
rapid cycle of obsolescence.
Waste from electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is the fastestgrowing
waste stream; Unwanted Electronic Service (UWS) is offering
consumer a service to dispose their unwanted computer. Since the
global resources are diminishing and the global warming accelerating,
the attentions are focusing on environmental protection. The aim of
UWS is help the electronic industry operating in a sustainable way by
recycling WEEE.
How to Work?
Unwanted Electronic Service (UES) is collecting people WEEE in different
ways, that meet the most convenience for different people need.
Theses unwanted electronic product would be collected, inspected,
remarketed and dismantled.
First of all, the worker in UES will analyze the product whether isn’t it
the end of its life. If not, the worker will find a suitable place for it to
donate, such as local family, school, and charity.
If the electronic product reach the end of it life cycle, the worker of
UES will disassemble according to its brand, and return back as a raw
material, such as integrated circuit (IC), plastics and glass. UES will
help people meet all state and federal regulations. The recycling
certificate will also be issued at the end of process.
How should Unwanted Electronic Service (UES) be approached?
There are different methods of researched and practice applying to
develop this service. Designing different scenarios is needed to find
out the missing parts of the service. By grouping the missing part &
the existing part, analyzing the different workflow.
As UES have different kind of people who will be engage, such as
individuals, businesses and organizations. By setting up focus group
to understand their needs individually. For example, how to collect the
household’s electronic waste is the most effective way.
Prototyping is part of the approach, because there are some potential
products that involve in the service, such as the collecting WEEE bin.
The location of the bin is part of the studies.
The aim of UES is to disassemble the electronic waste into components
according to the brand, this involve different brand of electronic
manufacturer. Having the majority electronic manufacturer, as partner
is the most effective way to make “cradle to cradle” happened.
Project Intention
UES will start at a smaller scale at the beginning time, by collecting
feedback by different group of people, modified in a most effective
way. The goal image of UES is get as much people involve as possible.
Although there are a lot of people concern about the environmental
problem cause by the WEEE, not much of the people take the right
action on it. As the manufacturers have started take the reasonability
on the WEEE, they start to develop recyclable components for
electronic product, which will not harm the environment if it take to
recycle. UES is helping the consumer to take their part of reasonability
together, so as to create a clean electronic industry.
Conclusion
The electronics have become part of our daily lives in the past two
decades. Televisions, computers, mobile phones and MP3 players are
just some of the electronics that we rely on. As product innovations
multiply to keep up with our demands, the lifespan of electronics has
becoming shorter. Discarded electronic equipment is growing three
times faster than any other waste category. And the main component
of e-waste often hazardous and toxic chemicals that can damage the
environment if people do not take a correct action.
Reuse and recycling prevents electronic items from reaching landfills
and leaching these chemicals into the earth. Reuse should always be
the first choice. Unwanted electronic Service is providing a more
convenient way for the consumers to recycle their out-dated
electronics product.
As the manufacturer have already willing to take their responsibility to
take back what they have made, being a consumer also have the
responsibility too.