EVOPC (1 of 5 finalists)
The voting period for the Design ReGeneration competion is now closed.
Reducing redundancy through full eco-system design of personal and shared components.
Description
The EVO PC concept is a sustainable personal computing service. This alternative to the traditional PC brings an established computing technology, terminal or thin client computing, to the home environment. The base terminal, or EVO Client, connects to the EVO Server via a broadband internet connection. The actual computing process takes place on the remote server, with the EVO Client receiving the video signal and transmitting information back to the server.
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Description (cont.)
The EVO PC concept is a sustainable personal computing service. This alternative to the traditional PC brings an established computing technology, terminal or thin client computing, to the home environment in a new form factor. The base terminal, or EVO Client, connects to the EVO Server via a broadband internet connection. The actual computing process takes place on the remote server, with the EVO Client receiving the video signal and transmitting information back to the server.
Customers would pay a monthly fee for access to the EVO computing service and recognize no significant change in their computing experience, other than the replacement of their current PC with the sleek, compact EVO Client. The potential positive impact of EVO on the environment is significant, though, through a reduction in energy consumption throughout its lifecycle.
The EVO Client system consists of 2 main parts: the EVO Client module and EVO Base unit. The Client houses a PC board with a low power processor, RAM, flash memory, wireless card, and a unique circular EVO docking connector. For the Client to function, it must be docked to a Base unit which supplies power and connectivity to the EVO Server, as well as the following ports: Ethernet, HDMI (video), 3 USBs, and Audio in/out. The modular nature of the Client allows multiple versions of the Base to be developed, including portable devices and dedicated internet appliances, such as weather stations, internet radios, DVRs, etc. Users could also install multiple docks throughout the home to allow the EVO Client to be used with any existing display or TV.
Green Considerations
The goal of the EVO PC concept is to address ALL of the key environmental issues associated with today’s PC, from cradle to grave. The EVO Client is 99% smaller in size (volume) and has 96% less mass than a typical desktop PC. This significantly cuts down on the energy and materials, and packaging required to produce and transport the product to the end user.
While the average PC consumes 70-150 watts of power, a thin computing device such as the EVO Client could require as little as 6.6 watts in full use, about the amount of energy used by a single Christmas tree light. The EVO Server will also consume energy as it performs the computing functions, but the server and client will still jointly use 50% less power than a traditional desktop PC. EVO Servers can support a worldwide customer base, enabling equal server loading depending on what part of day it is around the world, and thus demanding less overall power.
The Base unit incorporates an internal power supply that saves energy by eliminating the phantom load current draw that external power bricks exhibit. The design also utilizes a docking station approach, eliminating need for multiple CPUs, which are highly energy intensive to manufacture.
Service Business Model
An important part of the EVO PC concept is the transition of the PC from a product to a service business model. As PCs become more and more of a commodity, their value and life expectancy will continue to decrease. Low cost PCs are already being treated as disposable, which has obvious environmental implications. Profit margins for PC manufacturers are shrinking, and new markets in pursuit. A monthly service model, similar to the cable TV or wireless telephone industry, will allow PC companies to focus on creating and keeping customers rather than selling more products to those who do not need them.
The EVO Client box would remain the property of the PC company, just as the cable convertor or DVR box is owned by the cable company. All support, upgrades, and maintenance of the customer’s “virtual” PC would happen on the remote server, increasing the life of the PC and improving the performance and security of the user’s system. The EVO Client would supply an “instant on” experience to the end user, with the server always being up and running, with no boot up cycle needed. Automatic backups, firewall, and virus protection would be provided as part of the service and users would enjoy the ability to scale their performance and storage needs.
Green Advantages
There are numerous green advantages to this business model and system architecture. An enterprise thin client solution was recently named the Best New Green IT Product at the European Green IT Summit, because of its small environmental and physical footprint. The estimated length of life for a Client PC is estimated to be 5-7 years, twice the life of standard PCs.
When a new system is needed, or if a customer decides to cancel the service, the Client box would be returned to the PC company to be either refurbished or refreshed (with a new outer design) and then sent back out into service with a new customer. Any recycling or disposal would then be directly controlled by the PC manufacturer, extending its environmental stewardship.
The EVO PC solution also encourages users to use their existing monitor, keyboard, mouse, and peripherals, eliminating the need to create new ones. Finally, electronic ownership and installation of new software remotely on the EVO Server would eliminate the need for software packaging and CDs, and shipping and disposal of software items.
Materials and End of Life
End of life recycling needs have been addressed by the materials selected for use in the EVO Client and Base modules. A minimum amount of materials and parts have been used in this design, and the overall size and mass have been kept to a minimum. The unit is designed for simple disassembly for refurbishment or refreshment to the design and redeployment. Recycling of all plastic parts will be owned by the PC manufacturer.
In the event that disposal is necessary, the plastic housings would contain a currently available bio-polymer additive. When pellets of this product are added at a 1% ratio to resins prior to injection molding, plastics such as PC and PC/ABS are transformed into fully biodegradable materials, even in the absence of light and heat. The result is environmentally safe with no toxic effects. The ability for these parts to break down anaerobically in a landfill is key to the eco-friendliness of these resins. Corn or other bio-based resins require light and heat to decompose, which is not viable in a landfill environment. Heat-averse resins are also inappropriate for use in PCs. Additionally, all PC boards and components would be lead-free and be WEEE compliant.
Technology Feasibility
Terminal computing or thin client computing has been in use as a technology for many years. Companies such as HP, Sun, Wyse, and others currently ship thin client products for use in the enterprise space. They are highly regarded by many IT managers because of their low cost per unit, low power usage, and ease of maintenance.
This technology has not been adopted in the home environment, but with broadband internet service becoming more universally available, it is now viable as a home product using currently available infrastructure. No data is downloaded to the Client, only the terminal’s video signal, so data download speeds are not a real issue. As bandwidth continues to increase, and as fiber infrastructure is put into place, performance of an EVO PC device would only increase. Poor video performance with multimedia or graphics intensive applications has been an issue with thin clients, but recent developments have allowed for software based solutions to this problem. One concern is that if the high speed connection goes down, then the system will not be functional. However, all data will be safe and uninterrupted on the server, just as it was before the connection went down. The size of this device is achievable, based on current devices in production or under development.
If I have to pick a winner out of all finalists, this one will win my vote. (I have nothing to do with this finalist)
However, this confirmed my suspicion this contest is all about design art. I mean thin client is an decade old idea. I just don’t see the innovation part in this design; other than the pretty drawing.
by Tim / April 22, 2008
It may not be an original idea, but it got my attention. And if people want it, then it’s has accomplished the goal, right?
I say Hoorah! for a really attractive concept that might make Johnny and Mary Consumer move in the proper direction.
by David / April 23, 2008
I’m voting for this one as well! And to the contest organizers - is there anything that can be done about the ordering of the finalists? It seems that the order of the finalists is affecting their success in the voting period - the first entry has the most votes, and subsequent entries have progressively fewer votes. (The second entry is an exception, but otherwise, the trends holds true.)
by Rico / April 23, 2008
I’m so disappointed by this competition. This just goes to prove my point that no one really knows what green computing means. All of these entries are either not innovative or they are not technically feasible.
by manny / April 23, 2008
I totally think there is a place for it in smart homes, but this concept is not new, and I don’t think it’ll satisfy the majority of computer users. Those who buy computers want power, convenience, and the ability to be untethered physically and virtually. People don’t want don’t want to rely on another server to run their system because they usually do it badly. The user looses control, and absorbs a monthly fee in the process. I do, however, like the small, portable form factor.
by mardi / April 23, 2008
God is industrial design dying? Where is the engineering? All these entries might as well be comic book submissions, because that is a deep a they seem to get!!
by Travis S. / April 23, 2008
What is happening to industrial design? Where is the engineering, these submission may as well be comic book submissions. They aren’t based in reality and hang on the hope of technical expertise beyond themselves in effort to give their concepts legs1 Very immature ideation’s!
by Trevor G. / April 23, 2008
i love the aesthetics of this design. Id imagine it would be slow as hell though. remote server for a processor with a monthly fee.. haha.
by joe / April 23, 2008
Travis S. and Trevor G. sure seem to think alike, what a coincidence! Anyway, industrial designers are, well, designers, not engineers. Though they have some understanding of the way their products will function, it is (typically) not their job to see the product all the way through the manufacturing process, especially in a contest like this. Industrial designers are hired to inspire people to think about products in new ways without being bound by excessive technical restraints.
by Frankie T. / April 23, 2008
If these are the 5 finalist, can I assume no more than 5 people entered? Lots of art, magic, and old ideas, worthless.
by HUH / April 23, 2008
I think this idea is great. Very thorough and well thought out. The aesthetic design is beautiful, but it is not just skin deep. This idea considers the entire product’s life, from cradle to grave, and addresses all of the real green issues at hand.
This concept is really about eliminating the need for a PC to even be shipped to a customer. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could subscribe to a wired PC service instead of actually owning and maintaining a PC? Just like your cable or phone service. No antivirus, data backups, or software updates to worry about, and no waiting for the machine to boot up. Low power usage and maximum performance. This is based on technology that has been proven and is available today, too. It is not vaporware. It is a possible real world solution.
by Keith / April 24, 2008
To correct Frankie T., a good industrial designer actually involves the thought of engineering into their design process in order to make the idea reality. Also, in many cases, a designer will be involved with overseeing a product all the way through to production.
We all enjoy the opportunity to be creative and think of ideas without any boundaries, but at a certain point we have to come back down to Earth and try to understand how the product can become reality. Over time, we learn to understand engineering and try to consider ways to overcome the challenges that present themselves while developing products. That’s what makes an industrial designer so valuable to the cause; we learn to make our ideas become reality through understanding processes and learning how to overcome hurdles that present themselves during the design process.
by Steve G. / April 24, 2008
I like the idea of always having access to same set of data, but it’s not worth a monthly fee and server delay on all apps. That’s why laptops are good.
A bad or no connection = no access to your data and software (can’t use on a plane)
Is that metallic grey coloring? Doesn’t seem like the greenest colorant in terms of sensability and in terms of re-use (metal considered a contaminant in resin regrind).
by Tori / April 24, 2008
Steve G, great comment. Very well stated!!
by J / April 27, 2008
Tori,
The concept is considering the fact that a lot off people are using their computer network related anyway (e.g. webmail, internet…). No connection = no need to use the computer. I assume the network connections are getting more stable everyday anyway. We will have internet on planes in the near future. Anyway this is not meant to be the solution for everyone but for the average. The other big advantage is that your data is safe in the care of professionals that have better backup solutions than an normal user could imagine.
It is not a metallic gray. The renderings just turned out a little bit dark on the web. It is supposed to be unpainted white resin.
by Author / April 28, 2008
Nice presentation. I’m not loving the remote server idea. We still have problems periodically with our cable connection and large companies have been known to compromise consumer information, so I’m not sure the data is safer.
It would be more environmentally conscious if the stationary monitor could be disconnected from its base and become the laptop, thus eliminating a component.
by Janet Brzezinski / April 29, 2008
Janet,
Only if the laptop aspect is needed you can eliminate a component. If you don’t need a laptop you can just use the device with a normal monitor, which is more likely the greener solution.
by Author / April 30, 2008
I firmly believe that thin client computing supports home computing users extremely well. It is not a replacement for mobile computing, yet, only due to our lack of reliable wireless broadband.
Here is another possible advantage of thin client computing: it could work to decrease the economic digital divide that exists. The less expensive up front costs and manageable (assumptive of course) monthly access fees will allow more low-income families to afford modern computing as well as broadband access. Many low-income families are underserved by broadband providers, but to see the benefits and what some are doing about this, check out http://www.one-economy.com, a non-profit that has increased access to and studied the benefits of broadband.
“In North Carolina, for example, residents saw an increase in SAT scores, business and job opportunities, and the number of high school seniors applying to college.”
I liked the fact that the designer thought of many different ways this system architecture would result in environmental benefits, from billing paper waste and software packaging to energy consumption using load balancing and reduction in number of processors and disk drives manufactured.
There are many unresolved design issues in the product itself, however, which in my eyes makes this a failure in terms of industrial design. One example is that the ring connector is arbitrary with no perceived emotional or functional benefit. The base and docking station configuration is also rather stale for a concept that is supposed to provoke thought and discussion. It is clear that the product design was not what excited this designer, but rather the system architecture.
If you believe the most important point is that thin-client computing can benefit the environment, my recommendation to you is to create a more radical looking concept computer which uses the thin client architecture in order to stimulate more discussion and interest.
If you in fact believe that people accept idea of thin-clients but see the obstacle to adoption as ugly and poorly functioning thin-clients, then my suggestion would be to create a product concept based on functional and emotional research of existing thin client users and home computer users. This would allow you to create a more resolved design that assumes thin-client computing works and says, here is a thin-client design that will sell and work in the home. I don’t believe your current design does that.
Choose one approach and focus on that. You will ultimately be much more successful.
by Matt Bowgren / April 30, 2008
I completely disagree with the comments regarding engineering. This competition is about concepts and discussion. The system architecture is practical and achievable - it uses existing technology. There is nothing about the product design or technology which is unreasonable (although I would never advocate the circular docking connector).
The only technology component that is clearly missing, yet necessary, is a graphics processor which would have to be local.
If you have get hung up on feasibility issues with the manufacture of this product you are completely missing the point.
by Matt Bowgren / April 30, 2008
excellent
by k.dissanayake / May 4, 2008
so, this box would still be owned by dell… and we would sell a subscription to the end user. cradle to grave, it’s ours all along then, huh? like my, err, time warner’s cable box. if you drive up to time warner, with the cable box in your arms and the cables dragging on the floor behind you, and you tell them that you cannot afford your cable package, the reps they have are trained to read you a script and make a save the sale offer. kinda like the one we’d have to make to start renting these out to our customers. yeah, i think that would work. unfortunately, we are at 385ppm CO2, so yeah, i think that there’s going to be serious scrutiny to identify, sub meter, any of the main power hogs on any institution’s grid. so, yeah, maybe you can still own your air conditioner, but maybe in the future, it’s become so important to recycle technology equipment, that it’s only available via lease. and i don’t think time, on it’s own, is sufficient. Now, the best way to look out into the future is to factor in the expected CO2 ppm. Combine it with our atmoshere’s CO2 parts per million. (yes, i know there’s other molecules besides CO2) So, like 2025:397ppm. when we get there, we will need to really scrutinize power use and it might get to a point where computing can only be leased. far out.
by kevin thompson / May 7, 2008
I can’t see the “amazing” 6.6watts, especially if we’re still using our existing monitors. Saving on CD shipments is hardly a big deal in a corporate environment, since we already use one disc and put the install.exe on a server and grab it from there to install it on any machine across the network. Having hard copies of our software is just plain smart encase something “really bad” happens. But what about using my computer at home as a thin client and having all my programs hosted by say, Google? I wouldn’t like that idea either. It takes the concept of having my own computer out of my hands.
I want to be green. I want technology to progress in all areas of electronics to be much more environmentally friendly, not only in power usage, but also recyclibitly.
As it’s been stated, thin client’s have been around for a long time. I don’t see this making that much of a difference when compared to the other concepts presented.
by James Yates / May 7, 2008
Less than 10 watts is possible with current thin client technology. A Wii, which is a powerful device, only uses 17 watts. And if you have an LCD monitor, it should only be using 35 watts when in use.
This is a concept that is meant to solve green issues by lowering consumption during manufacture and use. It does that. As far as software goes, there is no need to have the CDs or the box in this scenario. It comes with the service. You don’t need a hard copy. You would own the digital rights to the software and wouldn’t need a backup.
The idea of sending the box back it meant to eliminate e- waste. Users would be motivated to return the box instead of throwing it away. As a concept, it really seems much more viable than a lawn PC that uses solar power and wireless video, or a flower PC that runs on a fuel cell and includes a projector. I don’t that the projector would be running for very long on that power source…
by Keith / May 22, 2008
Wow, I’ve never seen so many overly positive and fluffy comments about a design in a competition- because he made the connector circular? I hope these aren’t honest answers from real designers. What has he eliminated? He designed a really underpowered tablet PC that isn’t even wireless. You still have a device containing a PC board, RAM, and a wireless card- a wireless card that is sort of pointless because you have to put the device in a dock anyway in order to use it. So your screen image travels over a video signal, but what about the data you input into the device? What powers all of your existing peripherals? Where is the video card to drive your monitor? Apparently all of this will be powered by an amount equalling one christmas light.
Sorry to get so negative, but I just can’t believe these answers. This is 2nd year design school vaporware. At least it should be, but it was actually created by a guy who owns his own design company and actually designs products for Dell.
by Brian / May 29, 2008
@brian: go to http://www.teradici.com/ and you’ll see that people are beginning to do this sort of thing. There are many other examples of this. Google can help you search… You may want to take a closer look at the entry and try and wrap your head around it a little more instead of calling it vaporware.
by @brian / June 26, 2008