LawnPC (3 of 5 finalists)
The voting period for the Design ReGeneration competion is now closed.
Iconic future concept to reduce power consumption through a low power PC, running from solar energy.
Description
Lawnpc is a self-sustaining computer system. It creates all of the power it needs to operate with help from solar energy. Overall the Lawnpc would save an average of 876 kWh and 800 kg of carbon dioxide per computer per year. Multiple that by the projected 1 billion computers in the world and the environmental impact is tremendous.
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Description (cont.)
In addition, the Lawnpc has taken substantial steps in the areas of product life cycle, stewardship, and human factors. The life cycle is extended with a unique upgrade option. Its environmental stewardship is improved by the use of Bio Batch additives and natural material. Human factors improvements are centered around its flexibility.
Green Considerations
Stewardship
Reduces use of natural resources.
Energy Efficiency
Saves 876 KWh a year per CPU
Climate Protection
Eliminates 800kg of CO2 a year per CPU
Material Utilization
Biodegradable plastic & natural fibers
Recovery and Recycling
Metals recovered & decomposition
Product Life Cycle
Uniquely upgradeable
Is this even possible? Inkjet printed solar cells?
Why not just use solar panel? I buy the idea to use disguised panel, but this is too far. Obviously waste more material and energy.
by Tim / April 22, 2008
I like it, will be great as an art piece in a small apartment.
by Byron / April 22, 2008
Most mobile processors now run cooler and without a fan. It seems this would require a low power processor anyways, as solar panels are inefficient to begin with, and these ones only create 20 watts per hour apparently.
How is the printed circuit board and solar cell removed from the natural cotton for decomposition?
Multiple that by 100 and then a billion, and that’s a lot of waste.
For a “green” competition, it appears that statements do not have to be backed up by any real design or problem solving.
by Cole / April 22, 2008
What are we supposed to do at night-time? Or if the sun goes behind the clouds?
by Rico / April 23, 2008
Great concept, very iconic, but realistically may require a entire yard to work effectively. In terms of durability and lifecycle, I cannot imagine how many printed solar cells the user would break or may be damaged by long term UV exposure -after all they are inkjet printed. My cat would love to munch on it though!
by mardi / April 23, 2008
Great looking concept! I think it has a fun element that is attractive. In response to a comment above, I think it stored energy in battery cells when there was no sun (and an optional cord).
by Jon / April 23, 2008
Everything wireless! of course! this thing is pretty sweet, but its really silly too.
by joe / April 23, 2008
Wireless power?
Man would Tesla be Jelous!
by Stevo / April 23, 2008
This is ridiculous
by Frustrated / April 23, 2008
The most beautiful and fun concept of the 5.
by Pete / April 24, 2008
This is a design contest right? Good product design should be concerned with appearance as well as function. Out of all of the entries this is the most good looking.
If you are questioning it’s sustainability and green qualities you should reread the product details again.
Great Job Lawn PC!
by Rachael / April 24, 2008
Fantastic idea! i would buy one tomorrow
by Dan / April 24, 2008
Form: Seems fragile.
Effectiveness: 10-12hrs full sun exposure just to get 6-8hr use? Where I live & work, it wouldn’t get enough light to support either my family or business needs. Not finding referenced data for power & CO2 savings.
Recovery & Recycling: skeptical of how the center of blade & printed electronics would be seperated from cotton in an environmentally acceptable fashion. Those sorts of things tend to use energy & solvents and end up being less green than hoped. Also skeptical about bio-batch: what are the by-products when used with electronics grade PC & ABS, and is this net better for the environment than other options?
by Tori / April 24, 2008
Heck with the PC. I want to replace my yard with this stuff.
by Paul / April 24, 2008
Sorry, but you are really NOT going to like a wireless connection between your PC and your monitor. Keep in mind you still need to power the monitor, underneath all the image-content data transfer requirements. Any kind of un-directed wireless connection is going to waste the majority of the energy put into a signal, and any kind of phased array or field-generation coils are going to be significantly more expensive (energy and cost) than simply using a wired connection. And the broadcast band (frequency options) required to handle a monitor’s bandwidth requirements are mostly blocked and/or going to be interfering with (or interfered with by) other equipment in the environment. This is a one-shot (”wouldn’t it be interesting if”) idea that doesn’t mesh with enough design considerations to be viable.
by flared0ne / April 24, 2008
[…] LawnPC […]
by ReGeneration - Remarkable Designs, Breathtaking Drawings - Help Us Pick Our Winners / April 25, 2008
A lawn. Perfect. Now let’s break out the fertalizer so the grass has a chance to grow INSIDE. Oh, wait, grass also needs water and sunlight to grow. That should work out perfectly seing as though there’s a bloody CPU UNDERNEATH THE GRASS. Not to mention the ‘ingenious’ cooling design. Really? Air flow? Where is this air coming from, this is a household computer. Are you supposed to suck electricity and stick a fan next to it? Either that or live in a wind tunnel huh?
by Integrate / April 26, 2008
For those that forgot how to dream (this thing will never work), you are the reason I still have to drive instead of fly to work. Negativity never helped anyone achieve anything, good luck in traffic and thanks a lot!!!
Great foresight on the LawnPC. Keep dreaming.
by Drew / April 28, 2008
why not run it on methane?
by Peeved / April 28, 2008
good~
by veini / April 28, 2008
Looks very good,but not workable.
by Nicy / April 28, 2008
Of all of these entries this is the most original. It is well researched, and it pushes the envelope. It is not really feasible, but there is a chance for it to be in the future. I too have green fatigue. Consumers would be skeptical of this design and the power and all wireless problems are huge. This contest in general needs some direction, as a lot the finalist designs mostly just ‘frosting’ or ’surfacing’ existent technology to make it more appealing as green and get it into the marketplace. The Lawn PC at least combines some newer features in an attractive and creative way.
by WTFwithThisContest / April 29, 2008
Cool looking…Not sure if it’s practical.
by Janet / April 29, 2008
Both outrageous and a stunning departure from gray boxes - green turned inside out.
by German B. / May 3, 2008
support
by changxiao,chen / May 4, 2008
Really nice…I like the concept, the form originality and the way you presented; simple and really efficient.
by celine / May 5, 2008
that is so cool, I have a last gen I mac and now i buy that huge piece of plastic lawn to put next to it, green and white compliment each other so well - awesome!
by *cb / May 5, 2008