Kate's ITP Blog

Ideally, I wanted to hack the charger itself and use the wasted energy to power a blinking LED and/or vibrating motor when the cell phone was not attached. Sadly, my physical computing skills are not up to the challenges and risks of working with that level of voltage. As plan B, I designed a devise that attaches to the end of the charger, and uses a pin on a spring to determine whether the cell phone is attached or not--when it is not, a circuit is completed and a blinking LED lights. When the pin is depressed (and therefor the phone is attached), the pin slides a bit of plastic between the metal tab connected to the LED's power source and the battery, breaking the circuit.

I was hoping to create a smaller, more elegant device than I ultimately did, and am of course bothered by the fact that the device requires a battery, negating any positive effects it might have on energy usage... Although the ideal solution to this problem would/will be for manufacturers to have automatic shut-off features on chargers and other home devices, I think there's something interesting about the idea of having devices that alert you to your wasteful habits, keeping you mindful of the impact of your possessions and your actions.

Waste List

A second assignment this week was to keep a log of our waste, and propose some steps we can take to reduce it.

Friday

• 1 can of cat food
• 2 cardboard coffee cups—I will start carrying a reusable mug again
• 1 square of tinfoil (lunch)
• 1 paper bag (lunch)—I will ask them to give me my burrito without a bag
• 2 cardboard boxes (food for dinner)
• 2 plastic bags (food for dinner)
• 18 cigarette butts
• 10 minute shower—I could take shorter showers...
• 5 minutes of running hair dryer—Air drying would be better, but not always an option
• Electricity to run computer, fans, and refrigerator—I'm going to get in the habit of turning off my computer each night and reduce fridge temp a bit

Saturday

• 8 plastic grocery bags—I should start using canvas bags again
• 2 plastic produce bags—I should get some of those reusable mesh bags
• 10 minute shower
• 1 can of cat food
• Electricity to watching movie, run computer, fans and refrigerator
• 15 cigarette butts
• 6 pieces of junk mail— I need to sign up on the 'do not mail' list again
• Gas used by cab to get home—If I came home a bit earlier, I could use public transportation
• Water for plants

Sunday

• 1 can of cat food
• Electricity for computer, fans, refrigerator
• Water and electricity to run dishwasher
• 2 cardboard boxes (dinner)
• 2 plastic bags (dinner)
• 14 cigarette butts

Monday

• Electricity for computer, fans, refrigerator
• 10 minute shower
• 5 minute hair dryer
• 1 can of cat food
• 1 plastic water bottle—I should use my reusble mug & drink tap water
• 1 plastic food container (lunch)
• 14 cigarette butts
• 4 pieces of junk mail

Tuesday

• 1 cardboard box (cereal)
• Electricity for computer, fans, refrigerator
• 1 square of tinfoil (lunch
• 2 cardboard boxes (dinner)
• 10 minute shower
• 2 plastic bags (dinner)
• 12 cigarette butts
• 1 can of cat food
• Water for plants
• 2 pieces of junk mail

Wednesday

• 1 can of cat food
• Electricity for computer, fans, refrigerator
• Water and electricity to run dishwasher
• 1 plastic bag (lunch
• 14 cigarette butts
• Packaging for battery and LED from Radio Shack
• 3 pieces of junk mail

Thursday

• 1 can of cat food
• 10 minute shower
• 1 cardboard coffee cup (forgot mug)
• 5 minutes of hair dryer
• Electricity for computer, fans, refrigerator
• 16 cigarette butts
• 1 plastic juice container