We’d like to believe our beloved devices will last us a lifetime, but they all have an expiration date whether it’s because we upgrade or they fail to continue working. Most current electronics are wrongly designed around our false trust that they will last forever, & therefore pay little attention to the product’s afterlife. The ORBiS Bluetooth speaker is not one of these products! Each & every component was thoughtfully crafted with awareness to it’s impermanence. As much as possible, it’s recyclable, salvageable, fixable & safely disposable. All without sacrificing functionality or beauty!
ORBiS has been designed so its disassembly is simple and intuitive. The products cast Jesmonite housing is fixed using turned aluminum features which employ the use of tensioned nitrile cord. This cord can be simply cut or unfixed from its mounting in order to gain immediate access to the products internal components. These fixing are located on either side of the product.
Once inside, all the components are mounted within skeletal framework in order to be easily identified and removed from the product without the worry of having to tackle any irreversible fixtures like hot glue. The premise of this idea was originally inspired by air-fix kits which present an array of parts in an easy removal format.
Mounted within this framework is a small tool with several interchangeable heads. This tool can be removed and used to disassemble the entirety of the product. This dismisses the worry and necessity of gathering any tools prior to the recycling process making the product self sufficient for those who directly deal with the electronic waste.
The products PCB has been designed under the influence of WEEE regulations which require the mandatory removal of certain components from a circuit board prior to any recoiling process. This can often be a lengthy ritual which requires the de-soldering of individual components before the board can be dealt with accordingly. In response to this my PCB design is suggestive of an approach which will group together common components within separate sub sections. The board is then designed to be quickly snapped into these multiple sections which will afford a rapid approach to the separation of regulated waste.
ORBiS has also been designed with consideration toward aiding the efficiency of a process which will prevent the loss of precious materials. Improved efficiency will result in maximizing a products recyclability, ensuring greater material recovery is achieved.
Designer: Scott Matthews
