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All material cited below is for academic reporting and has not been used commercially.
Today's consumer electronics are being upgraded by replacing 100% of the hardware for less than 10% of the experience. As the core device of our electronic lives, a smartphone will only be used for an average of three years. More than 50 million tonnes of e-waste are generated every year.
There is no denying that climate change is already affecting us all. This summer we experienced extreme heat in London, and in the whole world, extreme heat has become normal. We must do something about it, even if only for ourselves.
After a combination of long-term research, I think there is a broad future for modular design. But I don't think it makes sense to make another phone, because it has formed a complete production chain and interest chain, and no company has the motivation to make reforms to it. But Augmented Reality is still in its infancy, with professional hardware selling at a high price and not yet in the mainstream market. AR headsets will surely eventually replace mobile phones as the omnipresent screen. All the major tech companies are making a push into the meta-universe, including OPPO, and OPPO has the opportunity to take a whole new route and lead the change in the industry.
But the current AR or VR device still follows the business model of the mobile phone, with a highly integrated design that makes it difficult to repair and puts a lot of pressure on the head. This is not what we want. It is important to note that a highly integrated design does not equal a great experience. A removable phone battery can be just as waterproof, but a non-removable battery requires a long recharge. Important components can be made completely modular. So I wanted to create an AR base frame to build a regenerative hardware ecosystem through modular design.
The hardware is divided into two parts, one for display and environmental awareness and the other for enhanced computing, communication and power supply. Both parts are modular in design, so users can upgrade or repair components exactly as they wish.
The experience is divided into three parts, the everyday glasses, e.g. myopia correction and UV protection.
The AR module is an accessory that can be magnetically added to the glasses for the basic smart glasses functionality, e.g. time display, and message alerts.
Finally, pair it with the base unit to get a full AR experience.
Use scenario imagery - everyday glasses
Use scenario imagery - smart glasses
Use scenario imagery - full AR functionality 1
Use scenario imagery - full AR functionality 2
