December 2, 2004

Plant ‘Cell’

Psfktelecom_1 According to the Australian mobile phone industry around 280 tonnes of mobile phones, batteries and accessories have been processed for recycling in the past four years. This equates to around 1.1 million batteries and 435,000 handsets.

With the increase in mobile phone sales and the trend looking like that of PC Software (i.e. once you buy it it’s out of date within 1 week) - mobile phones are set to take a new stance in the environment.

Instead of filling that bottom draw or the nearest bin with your old handheld, UK engineers at the University of Warwick (along with PVAXX Research and Development and Motorola) have come up with a new solution. They have developed a mobile phone case that contains an embedded seed in a small transparent window.

So - now you’ve bought your new upgrade, you just bury your old phone in compost, the case biodegrades thus allowing the seed to germinate and grow in to a beaming flower. It is said that the seed will only germinate after it has been planted.

Prototype telephones are currently sprouting dwarf Sunflowers and the idea seems to be a success. A launch date for commercial supply is yet to be announced.

Will your favourite flower or colour of a plant pot be the new deciding factor for upgrade options? Let’s wait and see.

Sydney Morning Herald

Article categories: Science, Telecom