Bare Technology
using E-waste to make accessible computers for the elderly
Every year companies all over the world throw away old computers, creating a new problem in the form of E-waste. At the same time, technological advances mean that more and more people are moving online leaving those with no online experience behind when it comes to accessing information, especially the elderly. Two students, Thomas Wastling and Ethan Howard put their minds together to come up with a solution to help solve both problems. "Neither of us have a traditional design background. However we are interested in how design can be used to generate positive environmental and social change. The RSA Student Design Awards’ briefs have allowed us to consider these challenges in greater depth, and in turn develop an entry which tackled two briefs in one: Re-Work and Learning For Life, says Howard. Their concept is to take discarded computers from industry and install a simple, intuitive operating system on top, aimed at people who don’t have much experience with computers.