According to the developers behind the Phonvert movement, we’ve spent the last twenty years talking about changing the world into “the internet of things” (or IoT), a world where everything is connected. And yet, excluding some smart-cars, fridges and TVs, we’ve only made baby steps so far. This is for various reasons: the advance of technology, the cost of such connected devices, internet connection, etc. But Phonvert hopes to change this by making use of our most valued modern devices: surprise, surprise, it’s our phones. But not so much your brand new, shiny phone. No, they want that piece of junk you stopped using a year ago.
According to the Phonvert website, the mission is to “spread the word ‘phonvert’ and steer everyone to reuse their retired smartphones.” Thanks to current trends (and perhaps planned obsolescence), we buy new phones every two years or so. Instead of recycling our old phones, they sit in our closests, shoe drawers or car glove compartments collecting dust. Phonvert says last year an estimated 280 million were discarded or have otherwise gone unused without being recycled. So instead of letting them go to waste, Phonvert is a budding movement that seeks to put them to use in your life.
As seen in the video below, Phonvert uses an app that connects these old phones to your current one. The old phones can be attached to various appliances or places for various uses. Take for example its use as a “cry alert:” strap your old phone to your baby’s crib, and every time the old phone detects your baby’s cries, it will send a notification to your new phone. (Combine that with a “baby cry translator” and parents will be completely in control of their child’s needs.)
Or strap your phone to the inside of your fridge and it can take photos every time new items are added, to remind you of what you need at the store. Similarly the “post cam” notifies you when new mail has arrived, and the “door cam” alerts you when someone knocks at the door. Or if you want to keep an eye on your home or workplace when you’re not around, you can turn your phone into a surveillance cam.
With all of this in mind, the question of making your life more “hackable” may be up for debate, especially if older phones have out of date security measures. But that’s why the Phonvert movement is looking to expand its team. Right now Phonvert is based out of Tokyo and consists of a small group of leaders who are looking to invite engineers, designers and students to join them. For more information, check out the video below and visit the Phonvert website.
Source: Phonvert, via Tech Crunch