modular smartphone

(redirected from Phonebloks)

modular smartphone

A smartphone built with snap-in building blocks. Rather than requiring a new phone when only one or two components need to be fixed or enhanced, only those affected modules have to be replaced. In 2013, Dutch designer David Hakkens developed the Phonebloks concept, and via online news and social media reached a huge audience. Hakkens developed the prototype device and collaborates with Motorola on Google's Project Ara to bring his idea to fruition.

Dave Hakkens' Phonebloks

Although achieving a working product means overcoming many technical hurdles, the concept is simple: all modules snap onto a base unit. (Images courtesy of Phonebloks, www.phonebloks.com)

Copyright © 1981-2019 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.

Mentioned in ?

smartphone

References in periodicals archive ?

The first modular smartphone concept to garner truly widespread attention was the Phonebloks. It was the brainchild of the Dutch designer, Dave Hakkens who posted a video that depicted his vision of a completely modular device in 2013.

Modular smartphones: How far is it from reality

Phonebloks, by Dutch designer Dave Hakkens, popularised this concept three years ago, with the intention of reducing electronic waste by changing the way electronics are made.

Mix and Match

Intel, Highway1, PCH, Bosch, BERGCloud, Good Night Lamp, Phonebloks, Ultimaker, Xively, Fritzing, Fairphone, Bragi, and many more.

ThingsCon Brings Europe's Leading Internet of Things (IoT) Experts and Thought Leaders to Berlin (8/9 May 2015)

Prototype sample of a modular smartphone from Phonebloks showed how parts can be disassembled that allows user to choose specific hardware components.

Project Ara Future Phones: How To Build, Upgrade And Repair Modular Smartphones

Google announced the modular smartphone venture back in October of 2013, and Phonebloks aACAo the little modules that would attach to a modular phone aACAo were shown off a month prior.

Google Releases Project Ara Development Kit, Modular Phones Closer Than Ever

IDEAS OF THE YEAR: PHONEBLOKS was one of the smarter hardware ideas of the year.

The internet in 2013; It's been a year of Snapchats, Phonebloks and talking lamp posts. Giles Turnbull looks back over the state of the web in 2013

From left, Facebook''s Graph Search, Vine and Phonebloks, and below right, Ghost which helps you to produce a blog

The internet in 2013; It''s been a year of Snapchats, Phonebloks and talking lamp posts. Giles Turnbull looks back over the state of the web in 2013

Shares: 33,888 Phonebloks The Lego-like concept smartphone with changeable parts has had a lot of attention on the net.