Turning old smartphones into tiny data centres

Researchers in Estonia propose a way to reduce electronic waste and advance sustainable data processing.

The team at the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science has reportedly demonstrated that old smartphones can be repurposed to efficiently process and store data.

They claim that building such a data centre is inexpensive at around eight euros per device.

In the project's first stage, the researchers removed the phones’ batteries and replaced them with external power sources to reduce the risk of chemical leakage into the environment.

Then, four phones were connected together, fitted with 3D-printed casings and holders, and turned into a working prototype.

The prototype was then tested underwater for marine life monitoring. Normally, these kinds of tasks require a scuba diver to record video and bring it to the surface for analysis. But with the prototype, the whole process was carried out automatically underwater.