Monday, April 5, 2010

Green industrial design (iPad)

I have been following the attempts at the green strategy of Design for Disassembly since the early 1990s.  In fact, one of the favorite pages on my website is about DFD.  The iPad seems to have adhered to basic DFD principles quite closely.

As for the iPad as a product.  I am not especially excited about this thing--even though I have been an Apple guy since 1985.  It was obviously not designed with me in mind--cannot imagine editing high-def video with Final Cut Pro on one, for example.  However, I do have a 74-year old friend who is interested in participating in the on-line world but has been massively frustrated by computers.  He frequents places with wi-fi so with an iPad, he doesn't even need to have an internet connection.  I'll bet he soon owns one.
The iPad (PHOTOS): How Green Is Apple's Latest Gadget?
Gazelle Emami Posted: 04- 2-10 07:59 PM
The release of Apple's iPad today has the web abuzz, and there's one question on the minds of the green-inclined: How eco-friendly is Apple's latest gadget? Some argue that it's an extraneous purchase, making it unenvironmental based on that alone. Then there's the recent discussion on cloud computing, which are shared computer servers that process user data requests to stream video, download, check email, etc. Basically, it's a huge power suck that, according to Greenpeace, releases more carbon into the atmosphere than previously thought, and the iPad falls under the cloud-computing umbrella.
But when it comes to the device alone, turns out the iPad fares pretty well, especially in comparison to other electronics. Apple has taken measures to ensure the iPad is energy-efficient and does less damage to the environment than it could if it followed some industry standards. We've compiled the attributes that make the iPad a green gadget. Take a look, and vote for your favorite feature! more

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