Michael VealeThe seasonal news that #WhatsApp will stop working on #iPhone 5 and below #Android 4.3 highlights how the lack of Web apps is a significant environmental problem. Phones become obsolete in part because they don’t get OS updates, and they become incompatible with compiled apps. A lightweight OS for old phones would be more feasible if it mainly had to have a solid Web browser that facilitated a proper selection of #ProgressiveWebApps (& if manufacturers made open drivers/docs). #PWA #PWAs
It’s an environmental problem as the replacement of phones is a much, much bigger issue than their energy usage. The extent of it surprises modellers who look into it. See https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.239
jon crowcroft@mikarv funny statement that there's a dearth of publications on ICT energy costs - one project we did alone had this lot :- https://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~jac22/internet-publications.pdf
@tforcworc very few include the lifecycle assessement of the hardware costs, which Belkhir et al indicate is the biggest issue. (contracted) report from me hopefully coming out soon on this and on how it links to online advertising, though not sure how much of it will be published, will try and publish the rest https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.239
Frederik Borgesius@mikarv @tforcworc That report sounds very interesting! By the way, Bernard van Gastel, a colleague at @Radboud_uni, is specializing in environmental impact of ICT now. I hope I can introduce you two soon at a conference or something.
@tforcworc Thanks! Would love to hear the title!
@tforcworc Thank you Jon!