Skip to main content

Home/ Hospitality Technology/ Group items tagged batteries

Rss Feed Group items tagged

shaunagayecox

Energy firm says its nuclear-waste fueled diamond batteries could last thousands of years - 0 views

  • These
  • These surreal claims are being made by a California-based battery company that says successful early test results recently competed on a nano-diamond battery brings them closer to realizing such claims.
  • The key to their revolutionary batteries is radioactive nuclear waste.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The company, NDB, says it can safely utilize this waste to generate power in its nano diamond batteries
  • It could be used for common mobile devices, medical products, satellites and could provide energy in hard-to-reach locations or remote areas where routine maintenance would be difficult.
  • The basic principle behind the concept is not actually new. As NDB's chief operating officer Mohammed Irfan explained: "Using radioisotopes as a source for energy is not new
  •  
    The company NDB Inc has created a nano diamond battery that will not need to be charged and will live for at minimum the full life of the products it is placed into. The battery is made by taking radioactive graphite nuclear waste, turning it into a diamond, and then allowing the diamond to create energy as it degrades. The energy is created by the interaction with carbon and the decaying diamond. Skepticism from writers in the tech field has included concerns about the power density of the battery. Skeptics believe that the power density will be lower than the current lithium ion batteries being used. However, amidst all the concerns from skeptics, the company NDB Inc still appears to be optimistic and passionate about bringing this product into fruition once the current pandemic eases up.
rhoff019

Surge in lockdown e-waste heading for landfill, experts fear - 1 views

  • may have caused a surge in electrical waste heading for landfill
  • Smaller electrical items such as electric toothbrushes and kitchen blenders are among the most likely goods to have ended up in rubbish bins rather than the recycling system.
  • Research suggests 60 per cent of people were de-cluttering during the lockdown, Mr Butler told the hearing —  and if all that waste was being recycled, HWRCs should be experiencing a surge in collections.
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • estimates suggest collection levels are still around 50 per cent below normal levels for the time of year
  • Concern is growing over the treatment and disposal of lithium ion batteries
  • Unless processed and recycled safely, lithium batteries pose a serious fire risk
  • lot of these batteries are being put into household waste bins or thrown into skips at recycling sites. And they are not then treated with the caution that is needed
  •  
    Through the lockdown there may have been an increase in the amount of e-waste thrown into the regular trash. About 60% of people are believed to have been their homes during quarantine. If e-waste was disposed of properly there should have been a surge at e-waste disposal sites, instead there are estimates that suggest collection levels are 50% lower than normal. This also poses a fire risk due to the lithium ion batteries found in most phones, laptops, and even electric toothbrushes.
  •  
    According to the article, the biggest issues for recyclers during the lockdown will include the increasing quantity of small-sized daily appliances and Li-ion batteries discarded to the bin, rather than being handled professionally and properly, and the rising quantity of electronic bikes. Li-ion batteries are risky since they may cause a fire, yet the current situation is not very optimistic.
anonymous

Our E-Waste Problem Is Ridiculous, and Gadget Makers Aren't Helping | WIRED - 1 views

  • Oh sure, many companies have green initiatives. Apple in particular has made notable, documented efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, powering a majority of its retail stores and data centers with renewable energy, developing more efficient packaging design, and designing products that use less power than their predecessors. But if your products are going to be tossed out in a year, none of that is particularly brag-worthy. That’s a tremendous amount of wasted resources.
  • In the past, computers were designed to be relatively easy to disassemble, like HP’s towers and older versions of the Mac Mini. You could swap out dead parts and batteries, add more memory if it got sluggish, even replace a motherboard. But in the mid-2000s, things started to change. Apple introduced the ultra-thin, ultra-light MacBook Air and the industry enthusiastically followed with heaping helpings of devices that, while slim, were very difficult to repair due to the construction compromises required to achieve that svelte profile. Smartphones and tablets followed with an even faster purchasing and chucking cycle.
  • Therefore, the easier it is to disassemble something, the more likely it is to be worth someone’s time to recycle it. And that’s where issues arise
  • ...4 more annotations...
  • “The big problem the electronics industry is facing as a whole is products are getting lighter and lighter,” iFixit’s Kyle Wiens said. “This is great for consumers but a nightmare for recyclers.” Smaller, lighter products can be tricky to take apart, and yield a lower volume of raw materials.
  • Glue and adhesives are a common hurdle. Products like the iPad and Microsoft Surface achieve a slim form factor by using “a metric duckload of adhesive,” as Wiens once put it, particularly to keep the battery in place. All that glue must be removed before any recyclable material can be melted down. And battery recycling is risky endeavorin the best of circumstances—under the right conditions, a damaged battery can cause a fiery explosion. Tack onto that the need to painstakingly pry a battery from its glue-smeared lodging and you’ve got a delicate task indeed. For items with a lot of glue, like a tablet display, Sims Recycling Solutions heats the glue, then uses suction cups to apply pressure across the glass so it can be removed without cracking. Other things that can make a product more challenging to recycle include the number of screws (particularly non-standard screws), the inclusion of hazardous materials like mercury (which is declining, due to the rising popularity of LEDs instead of bulbs), large amounts of glass, and plastics. Waterproof and tightly sealed products also are more arduous to deal with.
  • As we rush headlong into a world in which we’re disposing of more and more gadgets each year, making them easily recyclable should be a growing priority of device makers. Just as display size, processor speed and energy efficiency are marketing points, so too should recyclability.
  • David Thompson, Panasonic’s head of environmental affairs, says the standardization of screws and plastic resin materials, not thermally setting screws in plastic, and minimizing the use of glue will boost recycling efforts, as will designing products for easier disassembly. Would consumers really decry, or even notice, these changes? Probably not. But such changes could require concessions to slim dimensions and light weight. And for manufacturers, increased standardization may mean fewer distinctions between competing products. Take a plastic smartphone housing: Currently there are hundreds of variations (soft touch, textures, and metallic colors, to name a few). Standardization could limit that very marketable variety. Even so, some products are embracing such ideals. Dell won The Institute for Scrap Recycling Industries 2014 Design for Recycling award for the Latitude 10 and XPS 10 tablets and Latitude E7240 notebook. Aside making its products cheap and easy to recycle, Dell has used nearly 8 million pounds of recycled plastic in its desktop and display production. And it is not alone.
  •  
    I found an interesting article about how the big computer companies can recycle the computers. This can solve some of the main problem about the recycling. The article is referring to idea that computers may become bigger size but easier to recycle. In other words we might wanna make a step back in the past, when we was able to just replace one detail from the computer instead of throwing it away.
Yuting Peng

Tech-Laden Hotels Call for Modern Disaster Plans - 0 views

  • the plan has assumed a new life as both a disaster prevention and action schematic for all physical plant systems, computer systems, appliances and all normal uses of the facility. The plan revolves heavily around backup generators and battery power for electricity, as well as services that run on electrical power.
  •  
    It often happen in hotel that the physcial plant system has some problem.The plan resolves heacily around backup generators and battery power for electricity. Lota's plan contain every system, if hotel obey the plan I think they can operate better.Make sure every physical plants in a good working condition.
  • ...1 more comment...
  •  
    It is realize that the potentially harmful effects that utility service interruptions can have on the hotel's many operating systems. With the Y2K threat just a memory, the plan has assumed a new life as both a disaster prevention and action schematic for all physical plant systems, computer systems, appliances and all normal uses of the facility. The plan revolves heavily around backup generators and battery power for electricity, as well as services that run on electrical power. If a fire, earthquake or other disaster causes a blackout, guests will most likely have to be alerted via the intercom. That system has a battery backup. The phone system also uses backup generators, which can also power message lights on the individual units if there's a problem.
  •  
    The duty engineer is also supposed to walk through all machinery spaces to check for any flooding or hazardous conditions. If the outage is of an unspecified "long duration," the duty engineer is also bound to continually check the fuel level of the emergency generator and request that the manager call the contractor for more fuel when the fuel level reaches half-full.
  •  
    The Sheraton hotel in California is the place for business travelers in the high-tech and government sectors. And to avoid the potentially harmful effects that the utility service interruptions can have on the hotel's many operating systems, the manager came out with a detailed engineering contingency plan. This plan is originally intended in prat to address potential Y2K woes. The plan assumed that a new life as both a disaster prevention and action schematic for all physical plant systems. 
vickychapas2021

10 Things You Should Know About Recycling Electronics - 1 views

  • The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that only 15 to 20 percent of e-waste is recycled,
  • the rest of these electronics go directly into landfills, incinerators and are illegally exported to developing countries
  • These foreign junkyards hire low-wage employees to pick through the few valuable components of often toxic old machines.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • The E-cycling Central website allows users to select their state and city to find a trusted recycler nearest them.
  • Reuse is always more environmentally sound and will give devices an extra couple years of usability.
  • One is called the e-Stewards Standard for Responsible Recycling and Reuse of Electronic Equipment, known as e-Stewards, and the other is called Responsible Recycling (R2) Practices, known as R2.
  • If an electronics recycler has either one of these certifications they are typically more trustworthy than a recycler without one.
  • With that being said, it is best to recycle your electronics as soon as you know you are done using them.
  • Before you recycle or donate your computer or cell phone, be sure to erase your data from the device.
  • CRT TV’s, printers, cartridges and many large home appliances are dangerous to recycle, so consumers should expect to pay a small fee to recycle them.
  • Don’t throw nickel cadmium batteries in the garbage! They’re made from poisonous materials that can harm the environment—and they also need to be recycled.
  • cell phone batteries can be used to make new smartphones and batteries, while zinc and aluminum from laptops and tablets can be used for metal plates, jewelry, cars or art.
  •  
    This article explains what e-waste is and how we as consumers can help recycle our e-waste. We should recycle products we know we won't use anymore because technology depreciates. When we decide to recycle our e-waste we should ensure that they are reputable. Throwing certain things in the garbage is toxic to the environment and thus we should make sure to recycle all technology instead of tossing it into the landfill.
Krystal Jost

Buffalo hotel launches Verve Living System | Hotel Management - 0 views

  • When a guest enters the room, he or she places the room key into the slot on the KeyCard Switch which then transmits a wireless signal. When in place, guests have complete control over the lights, outlets and the HVAC unit in the room. When removed, the room is designated as unoccupied
  • it also can detect which in-room devices have low battery levels; which rooms have constant occupancy; which rooms have problems with network connectivity; and which are not communicating properly with the hotel PMS and other systems.
  •  
    This article focuses on sustainability and methods in which technology is utilized to conserve energy and waste, while also not hindering the guest experience. Hotels, similar to the Salvatore Grand Hotel, have began implementing systems such as the Verve Living System, by Zeno Controls, LLC, that provide wireless connections to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, as well as the lighting in the guest room. It utilizes sensors to activate such amenities, and enables the guest to enter the room, place their key card into a slot, and it will begin to adjust to the preferred temperature and the preferred lighting levels. Once the key card is removed, such as when the guest is leaving the room, after a very short delay, it sends a signal that verifies the room is unoccupied, and turns off these energy-consuming items in the room. Many guests, when staying in hotels, do not consider turning off their lights or air conditioning when they leave the room, and simply leave everything running. They do not realize the impact this has not only on costs for the hotel itself, but also the impact that it has on energy consumption and sustainability. With the growing awareness of being "green", guests are focusing more and more on conservation, however, they may still be slacking in these areas, leaving things on, being absent minded. This system will allow guests to not have to worry about such tasks, and controls the system of turning these items off for them, adding convenience for the guest who is environmentally conscious. I have personally seen a similar system being used in a hotel room, and thought it was a great idea, and an amazing way to control costs and eliminate waste of resources. It is also very surprising to read that the Verve Living System detects low battery levels, constant occupancy, problems with room connectivity, and rooms that are not communicating with the hotel PMS or other systems. This enables the maintenance team of a hotel to fun
Ashley Heath

Going Green: A December 2012 Wrap-Up on Eco-Friendly Tech - 0 views

This article discusses new eco friendly technological advances made in 2012. Here are a few examples: Scientists at USC have developed an air pollution reader called CitiSense. This portable devi...

http:__www.business2community.com_sustainability_going-green-a-december-2012-wrap-up-on-eco-friendly-tech-0373341

started by Ashley Heath on 07 Feb 13 no follow-up yet
Michelle Wilson

VingCard Elsafe Awarded U.S. Patent for VISIONLINE Wireless RF-Online Networking Solution - 0 views

  • “A method and devices for use in a centralized wireless network, employing a wireless communication protocol to communicate with various devices throughout the network.”
  • VISIONLINE allows the locks to communicate with the server via online radio frequency (RF), eliminating the need to manually encode keycards, cancel master cards and check battery life.
  • we are leading the evolution of wireless hotel networking to help further that goal
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • “Not only does VISIONLINE provide an effective communications platform for our locking systems, it leverages the power of the most advanced technology available to give our hoteliers a real-time, 360-degree view over all their guestroom and property operations,”
  •  
    VingCard Elsafe has received a US patent for VISIONLINE, which is a wireless networking platform that connects electronic locks and other guest room devices. VISIONLINE communicate with the server via radio frequency, so guests no longer have to worry about key cards and hotels no longer have to worry about the battery life of the locks. VISIONLINE uses the only highly secured open platform, making it a safe electronic option. VingCard Elsafe also developed ORION which is used in hotel rooms to maximize sustainability by monitoring guest room conditions.
Kamini Ramsaran

Priceline takes on HotelTonight threat at global scale with last-minute service for Boo... - 0 views

  • Buoyed perhaps by the launch of a same-day hotel booking service on its mobile app, Priceline has launched a similar service for its global hotel service Booking.com.
  • Booking.com Tonight with initially be available only for Apple devices via the iTunes appstore
  • and will use last-minute inventory from its portfolio of 200,000 properties in 165 countries.
  • ...3 more annotations...
  • The app works by giving the user a list of all available hotels in the immediate area of the device which have same-day availability, with a two-step process if the user wishes to book from the handset.
  • Booking.com says it secured $1 billion in transactions via mobile devices in 2011
  • Validation of the marketplace for same-day bookings via mobile devices was illustrated again last November when HotelTonight secured Series B funding to the tune of $9 million in a round led by Battery Ventures.
  •  
    Priceline has launched their online same day booking application for iPhone users.  The app will soon be available for Android users as well. Travelers are able to search for last minute inventory from 165 countries and 200,000 properties, the app shows a list of available hotels in the area of the device the user is using to search for hotels.  The quick 2 step process to booking a hotel is easy to use and user friendly, guests also get a map with directions on their display to help them find their hotel.  This technology was introduced last year and had secured $1 billion in transactions 40% of the mobile bookings were for the same day reservations. Today's travelers and consumers are looking for instant deals, bookings, and conformation, with the technology of this app and the continued improvements consumers continue to be in their favor. 
kpony001

Japan theme park to replace a third of staff with robots - Nikkei Asian Review - 0 views

  • Japanese travel agency and resort operator H.I.S. plans to cut the number of workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park by a third in three years
  • About 1,200 full-time and part-time employees currently work at the Dutch-themed Huis Ten Bosch in Nagasaki Prefecture.
  • The displaced workers "will be reassigned to growing businesses within the group,"
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • The company is counting on robots and the "internet of things" to pick up the slack. It has already introduced about 250 robots at the park and a neighboring Henn na Hotel
  • It also is running a pilot program to automatically monitor and collect garbage at the park.
  • There are more than 200 robots at the Henn na Hotel there, handling a variety of tasks from checking in customers to cleaning and landscaping. The entire 144-room facility requires just seven human employees, just a quarter of a regular hotel its size.
  • "We will turn the park cashless in a year,"
  • He is also trying out an electronic payment system
  • "We will introduce customer service robots at the park in a few months
  • this would "reduce the number of cashiers and wait times."
  • H.I.S. is adding another wing to the hotel by the end of the year, which will be equipped with film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
  • completely energy-independent, so that the company will pay nothing for its heat and electricity -- two major costs for any hotel.
  •  
    H.I.S., a Japanese travel agency, cut the amount of human workers at its Huis Ten Bosch amusement park, and its neighboring hotel, Henn na Hotel, significantly wherein only 1,200 workers still labor at the park while the others will be reassigned to other branches within the group. Instead of human workers, H.I.S. has replaced with with robots that handle a wide variety of tasks severely limiting the amount of employees that have to work there. Among the tasks that they accomplish, there is a program which collects garbage in the park, as well as cleaning and landscaping. H.I.S. also plans to add customer service robots, an electronic payment system (hoping to go "cashless" in the future), as well as a new wing to the hotel, that will be an energy-independent generator made from film-like solar cells and plant-based storage batteries.
bhern082

Sustainable cruise ships: a look at the sector's most eco-friendly initiatives - 1 views

  • Oceania and Regent wage war on single-use plastics
  • In partnership with eco-friendly water company Vero Water, Oceania has pledged to eliminate millions of plastic water bottles every year as part of its OceaniaNEXT enhancement and the company’s larger Sail & Sustain environmental programme.
  • The Vero Water service will be implemented in two phases, with the first focusing on installing the onboard water service in suites, staterooms, restaurants, lounges and bars. During phase two, all guests will be provided with their own re-useable Vero Water bottle which will be theirs to keep
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • The next phase in executing a broader reduction in our plastic packaging requires an industry-wide mandate to our suppliers to explore sustainable alternatives
  • The following month, Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) – which, like Oceania, is part of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
  • ’ stable of brands – announced it will become the first luxury ocean cruise line to eliminate single-use plastic bottles, having recently got rid of single-use plastic straw
  • From 2020, IMO regulations will require ships to change from heavy sulphur fuel to more expensive low-sulphur alternatives with a maximum sulphur content of 0.5%, compared with the current 3.5%.
  • many operators are opting to install exhaust cleaning systems,
  • We continue to explore alternative fuel options, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) and fuel cells
  • The beauty of fuel cells is that they produce electricity with zero carbon footprint – the only emission is water
  • Our goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2020; through our investment in advanced emission purification systems, we have already reduced them by 25%
  • Le Commandant Charcot, will be the world’s first electric hybrid polar exploration ship powered by LNG – in addition to electric and battery power – opening up destinations hitherto only accessible to polar exploration vessels
  •  
    Sustainability or green initiatives are becoming more popular within the cruise line industry. From icebreaker powered by liquefied natural gas, to community-friendly itineraries and initiatives designed to eliminate millions of plastic water bottles every year, international cruise operators are catching up with consumer demands for more environmentally aware travel. Oceania and Regent have gone away with single use plastics by providing guests with eco friendly water system. Linblad Expeditions is asking its suppliers to explore sustainable alternatives. Regulations will require ships to change from heavy sulphur fuel to more expensive low-sulphur alternatives. WE go on to learn about different fuel cleaning processes that the cruise lines are implementing to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions, Lastly we see that LNG has created an icebreaker that runs on electric and battery power when in polar exploration. These are just a few of the ways cruise lines are implementing more sustainable practices.
  •  
    That is fantastic news that cruise lines are starting to make more of an initiative to eliminating their carbon footprint. I have been curious as to how cruise lines can take more green initiatives because they carry such a large carbon footprint that has a huge effect on our environment. Technology and ships like the Le Commandant Charcot are huge steps in reducing carbon emissions.
jalipman

Apple expands global recycling programs - Apple - 1 views

  • Apple will also be supporting the efforts of environmentally-focused non-profits Conservation International, SEE Foundation and The Recycling Partnership — expanding on its conservation and resource efficiency work from last year.
  • Today, Apple released its 2019 Environment report, which contains additional information on the company’s climate change solutions, including its recent announcement that 44 of its suppliers have committed to 100 percent renewable energy for their Apple production
    • jalipman
       
      Apple is working to cut down their carbon footprint in all facets further than just e waste.
  • Apple today also announced the opening of its Material Recovery Lab dedicated to discovering future recycling processes. The new 9,000-square-foot facility in Austin, Texas, will look for innovative solutions involving robotics and machine learning to improve on traditional methods like targeted disassembly, sorting and shredding. The Lab will work with Apple engineering teams as well as academia to address and propose solutions to today’s industry recycling challenges.
  • ...9 more annotations...
  • Starting this year, aluminum recovered through the Apple Trade In program is being remelted into the enclosures for the MacBook Air.
    • jalipman
       
      The other question that comes from this information. While it is very good that they are doing this. Would they be doing it if they had the option to cheaply ship it off to china.
  • he company’s engineering of an aluminum alloy made from 100 percent recycled aluminum allows the new MacBook Air and Mac mini to have nearly half the carbon footprint of earlier models
  • Apple also uses 100 percent recycled tin in a key component of the main logic boards of 11 different products.
  • Apple’s vice president of Environment, Policy and Social Initiatives. “We work hard to design products that our customers can rely on for a long time. When it comes time to recycle them, we hope that the convenience and benefit of our programs will encourage everyone to bring in their old devices.”
    • jalipman
       
      This is very interesting considered apple has been known to create products that DO NOT last very long. Also it is surprising that this position within their company even exists.
  • Daisy is now able to disassemble 15 different iPhone models at the rate of 200 per hour, recovering even more important materials for re-use.
  • Once materials have been recovered from Daisy, they are recycled back into the manufacturing process. For cobalt, which is a key battery material, Apple sends iPhone batteries recovered by Daisy upstream in its supply chain. They are then combined with scrap from select manufacturing sites and, for the first time, cobalt recovered through this process is now being used to make brand-new Apple batteries — a true closed loop for this precious material.
    • jalipman
       
      Here they have closed the loop and allowed for them to not be taking away from our natural resources as was discussed in "the story of stuff" Shows apple is being environmentally conscious. Would be very interesting to see the ratio of how many phones they implement the old cobalt and how many are new.
  • In 2018, the company refurbished more than 7.8 million Apple devices and helped divert more than 48,000 metric tons of electronic waste from landfills. 
    • jalipman
       
      Apple clearly has been working to brand themselves as a green company. Since they are one of the main companies that quickly cycles through products and getting rid of your old one it is smart that they are now moving towards putting used products and materials back into the cycle for a second time.
  • Customers can also turn in their eligible devices to be recycled at any Apple Store or through apple.com as part of the Apple Trade In program.
  • pple today announced a major expansion of its recycling programs, quadrupling the number of locations US customers can send their iPhone to be disassembled by Daisy, its recycling robot.
alo328

Electronic Waste Is Becoming a Global Environmental Problem | Time - 1 views

  • s a tech-hungry nation flush with cash gets ready to upgrade to the next generation of lightning-fast 5G devices, there is a surprising environmental cost to be reckoned with: a fresh mountain of obsolete gadgets. About 6 million lb
  • Workers with hammers hack at the bulkiest devices, while others remove dangerous components like lithium-ion batteries
  • That cycle of consumption has made electronics waste the world’s fastest-growing s
  • ...17 more annotations...
  • “In our society, we always have to have the new, best product,” said Aaron Blum, the co-founder and chief operating officer of ERI, on a tour of the facility
  • 5G promises faster speeds and other benefits. But experts say it will also result in a dramatic increase in e-waste, as millions of smartphones, modems and other gadgets incompatible with 5G networks are made obsolete
  • But less than a quarter of all U.S. electronic waste is recycled, according to a United Nations estimate. The rest is incinerated or ends up in landfills
  • Environmental concerns aside, compacting flammable lithium-ion batteries with paper recycling can be dangerous; recycling centers have reported an uptick in fires
  • Even when e-waste rules exist, it’s left up to consumers to handle their old devices prop
  • ly. But recycling them can be a
  • We don’t necessarily have the measures to make sure people aren’t throwing it away,” Walters said.
  • One solution is to make electronics last as long as they once did. At ERI’s facility, Shegerian showed TIME dozens of televisions from the 1970s and 1980s that stopped working only recently
  • Our products today don’t last as long as they used to, and it’s a strategy by manufacturers to force us in
  • o shorter and shorter upgrade cycles,” said Kyle Wiens, the founder of iFixit
  • Some environmental groups say multibillion-dollar companies like Apple and Samsung should pick up the cost of recycling the devices they sell. Lawmakers in parts of Europe and Canada and in some U.S. states have passed so-called Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws, which require manufacturers to establish and fund systems to recycle or collect obsolete products
  • Even so, some companies are increasing their recycling efforts on their own, whether for the economic benefit or the public relations boost (mining fresh materials has financial, environmental and human costs of its own). For instance, Apple in 2018 introduced Daisy, a smartphone-recycling robot that can take apart 200 iPhones every hour, and says it diverted 48,000 metric tons of electronic waste from landfills that year
  • About 6 million lb. of discarded electronics are already processed monthly at recycling giant ERI’s Fresno plant.
  • Americans spent $71 billion on telephone and communication equipment in 2017, nearly five times what they spent in 2010 even when adjusted for inflation, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. (Apple alone sold 60 million iPhones domestically last year, according to Counterpoint Research.)
  • That stream is expected to turn into a torrent as the world upgrades to 5G, the next big step in wireless technology.
  • Part of the problem is regulatory. Only 19 states have laws banning electronics from the regular trash. In states without such rules, like Nevada, electronics often end up in garbage and recycling bins, said Jeremy Walters, a community-relations manager for waste collector Republic Services
  • Our products today don’t last as long as they used to, and it’s a strategy by manufacturers to force us into shorter and shorter upgrade cycles,”
  •  
    Advancement in technology every day has led to the dumping of electronic gadgets no longer wanted to the environment. Heaps of unwanted electronic waste, hazardous containing substances like lithium-ion batteries, are dumped into the ground with all their toxicology. As the world upgrades to 5G, it will end in a rapid surge in e-waste. According to John Shegerian thinks people are yet to see the magnitude of the transition to 5G, it is tremendous than changing from analog to digital (Samuels & Calif, 2019). However, it comes with many advantages; its outcome is a drastic rise in electronic waste. The ERI recycles less than a quarter of the United States' e-waste according to the estimate made by the United Nations, and the other dumped in landfills. This waste contains harmful metals such as beryllium and mercury, that have adverse environmental dangers. Among the 50 states in the United States, only 19 States have imposed a law to bun electronics from regular trash (Samuels & Calif, 2019); the rest of the states, like Nevada they are incorporated in recycling and trash bins, according to Jeremy Walters's manager for waste collection. The consumers are left to handle their e-waste even though there are e-waste rules. Multibillion companies should the responsibility and cater for the cost of recycling for the products they are manufacturing. Companies like Apple and Samsung, nonetheless the United States is repelling modifications to the prevailing laws, according to Scott Cassel Product Stewardship Institute found. However, some companies are improving through increasing their recycling efforts. For instance, Daisy, a recycling robot introduced by Apple, can collect more than 200 iPhones for recycling every hour. But this is not enough since e-waste generated annually globally is more than we can imagine, which almost 50 tons (Samuels & Calif, 2019). In a nutshell, technology can bring many benefits to society. Still, it can also harm both the environment and the p
  •  
    the article explores the dangers of elctronic waste and give suggestions on how to better monitor this issue and resolve.
  •  
    This article explains how the rapid advancement of technology has impulsed an increase in the use of technology, however has resulted in a rise in ewaste percentage. This happens because companies have opted for creating products that do not last for long periods of time, since they want to sell future products.
vannia varon

2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year: Tesla Model S - Motor Trend - 1 views

  • Tesla offers three lithium-ion battery packs for the Model S -- 40-kW-hr, 60-kW-hr, and 85-kW-hr -- that are claimed to provide ranges of 140, 200, and 265 miles, respectively. The base 85-kW-hr powertrain delivers a stout 362 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque, while the performance version makes 416 hp and 443 lb-ft.
    • vannia varon
       
      its actually 160, 230 and 300 miles range
  • Tesla Model S Signature Performance version will nail 60 mph in 4.0 seconds and the quarter in 12.4 seconds at 112.5 mph, with a top speed of 133 mph.
  • giant touch screen in the center of the car that controls everything from the air-conditioning to the nav system to the sound system to the car's steering, suspension, and brake regeneration settings.
  • ...13 more annotations...
  • The best energy consumption figure we've returned is 118 mpg-e for a 212-mile run
  • With a base price of $58,570 (before a federal tax credit of $7500), the 40-kW-hr Model S is competitive with entry-level Mercedes-Benz E-Class, BMW 5 Series, and Audi A6.
  • In terms of active safety, the Tesla Model S is at the top of the class.
  • Tesla claims the Model S outperforms federal crash standards, having been impact-tested at 50 mph (the mandatory standard is 35 mph)
  • Tesla's plant in Fremont, California, using Panasonic cells with nickel-cobalt-aluminum cathodes.
  • Markus Roder 5pts Dec 10, 2012 @LarryC213 Yes Larry - I agree with you. Clearly, only crowning a Ford F-350 or a revived Hummer as car of the year would have demonstrated Motortrend's lack of bias. I asked myself, though: Why is it, that the other car magazines like this car, too? But no worries, I came up with the answer pretty quiclly: All of them are in the pocket of the evil leftist homo-muzleem tree-hugging conspiracy, eh?  ShareFlag1LikeReply
  • Tesla recently unveiled the first five of what it calls its Supercharger stations along routes connecting L.A. to Las Vegas and San Francisco, and S.F. to Reno
  • These Superchargers are veritable electron fire hoses, delivering DC energy directly into the battery at rates up to 80 kW, bypassing the on-board 10-kW (or optional 20-kW) inverter(s), and gaining 150 to 160 miles in range in 30 minutes.
  • and it's permanently free to Model S owners
  • Tesla predicts 100 stations nationwide by 2015.
  • Tesla predicts 100 stations nationwide by 2015.
  • That the 11 judges unanimously voted the first vehicle designed from the wheels up by a fledgling automaker the 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year should be cause for celebration.
  • The 2013 Motor Trend Car of the Year is one of the quickest American four-doors ever built. It drives like a sports car, eager and agile and instantly responsive. But it's also as smoothly effortless as a Rolls-Royce, can carry almost as much stuff as a Chevy Equinox, and is more efficient than a Toyota Prius.
Panpan Xie

Tech-Laden Hotels Call for Modern Disaster Plans - 0 views

  • chief engineer Sam Lota spent most of late 1999 worked up a detailed engineering contingency plan.
  •  
    To prevent the potentially harmful effects by the disaster, the chief engineer Sam Lota of Sheraton Sacramento Rancho Cordova Hotel set up a detailed engineering contingency plan. The plan can protect physical plant systems, computer systems, gas system, etc., and can also back up the electric's battery power and phone system. Instead of reacting to crises as they occur, Lota set up some action plans in advance. He asked staff to review the emergency procedures and make sure the emergency generator can be used smoothly. However, the emergency plan does not specifically deal with the computer system interruption caused by earthquake. Some experts advised that the data should be backed up in an offsite location.
anonymous

Tech-Laden Hotels Call for Modern Disaster Plans - 0 views

  •  
    I found an old article on Physical Plant and preparation for Y2K! The claimed that high tech hotels needed to check their flash light batteries, first floor grounding of elevators, back up generators and fuel tanks. Besides the fact that this is written for doomsday Y2K they have a valid point to have a disaster plan if an earthquake, hurricane or any disaster takes the hotel off line. Loss of power is a real threat especially in hurricane Miami. We need to know that data will be backed up, rooms can be accessed, and that people will not remain stuck in an elevator. Please read below With hotel systems growing ever-more tech-dependent, disaster planning extends well beyond protecting data. Proaction Better Than Reaction Computer Systems Demand Special Attention Just outside California's state capital, the Sheraton Sacramento Rancho Cordova Hotel is a magnet for business travelers in the high-tech and government sectors.
  •  
    Before Midnight Cilli! No pumpkin carriage here lol. Thanks
espence13

Eric Lundgren, 'e-waste' recycling innovator, faces prison for trying to extend life sp... - 0 views

  • Eric Lundgren is obsessed with recycling electronics.
  • He built an electric car out of recycled parts that far outdistanced a Tesla in a  test. He launched what he thinks is the first “electronic hybrid recycling” facility in the United States, which turns discarded cellphones and other electronics into functional devices, slowing the stream of harmful chemicals and metals into landfills and the environment. His California-based company processes more than 41 million pounds of e-waste each year and counts IBM, Motorola and Sprint among its clients.
  • But an idea Lundgren had to prolong the life of personal computers could land him in prison.
  • ...1 more annotation...
  • Prosecutors said the 33-year-old ripped off Microsoft by manufacturing 28,000 counterfeit discs with the company’s Windows operating system on them. He was convicted of conspiracy and copyright infringement, which brought a 15-month prison sentence and a $50,000 fine.
  •  
    You may perceive the name Eric Lundgren. In 2017, he was everywhere throughout the news for making a $13,000 DIY electric vehicle with a 380 or more mile extend, effectively besting a Tesla. His LA-based organization worked in overseeing e-waste from regular electronic gadgets like cell phones and PCs. He's committed a huge number of hours to recuperating batteries, engines, and circuits from disposed of things reuse in wheelchairs, vehicles, or even different PCs. At 19, he began an organization to refurbish and offer PCs given to him by corporate customers like Dell, Asus, and Lenovo. At the point when a PC is sold or scrapped the Windows license accompanying it is legitimately transferrable to the new proprietor, making reestablishing non-working PCs and exchanging them a generally simple process. With a real Windows license, everything necessary is introducing the working framework from a reestablish circle and connecting the license key to demonstrate it's a legitimate install. The license key was frequently shown on a sparkly sticker along the edge or base of a PC. The certificate of realness, and the license key, is all you'd have to authentically introduce a working rendition of Windows on a non-running device. Those that didn't have the sticker, Lundgren told the Los Angeles Times, he rejected, pitching the parts to be utilized in different machines. Yet, it's here that Lundgren kept running into inconvenience. In the wake of aggregating exactly 28,000 restore discs, similar discs that used to come included with a bought PC, in any event before makers began getting rid of optical drives, Lundgren endeavored to dispatch them to his accomplice, for use in reestablishing non-working gadgets. After Microsoft and Dell caught wind of the plan, Lundgren was issued an indictment and fines
anonymous

6 ways to minimize your e-waste | Sustainability at Harvard - 0 views

  • Minimizing e-waste helps to conserve resources and reduces the amount of energy we take from the earth.
  • Re-evaluate. Do you really need that extra gadget? Try finding one device with multiple functions. Extend the life of your electronics. Buy a case, keep your device clean, and avoid overcharging the battery. 
  • Recycle electronics and batteries in e-waste recycling bins located around campus.  Large electronics can go in the larger bins found in your building.  
  •  
    This short article from Harvard University discusses ways in which conservation and recycling of old products can help minimize wasteful practices of corporations' extraction of precious minerals in the production of technological hardware.
ayenkiah

Mews Raises $33 Million to Challenge Oracle Hospitality in Hotel Tech - Skift - 0 views

  •  
    Through funding from Battery Ventures, Mews was able to raise $33 million dollars for the creation of property management systems built for the internet. This produces a challenge for Oracle hospitality, which is the world's most used property management system, Although not worried about startup companies like Mew, Oracle is making the necessary changes to be innovative and continue taking the necessary steps to being a stronger competitor in the hotel tech industry.
angelicamm6

Technology acceptance modeling of augmented reality at the point of sale: Can surveys b... - 0 views

  •  
    A study was conducted with the Ikea app to measure 4 different data "on the acceptance of the current version of the catalogue. (1) as answers to batteries of TAM items, (2) as assignments to pre-defined adjective pairs, (3) as textual likes and dislikes of users (simulating online reviews), and (4) as publicly available (real) reviews by users. The source for (1)-(3) is a survey with a sample of respondents, the source for (4) an online forum. The data is analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) for TAM modeling and text mining for pre-processing the textual data."
1 - 20 of 51 Next › Last »
Showing 20 items per page