Evolution of cellphones

Mobile phones have evolved dramatically from simple to smart, becoming essential information and communication hubs in modern life. Their relatively new counterparts - smartphones, have become our inseparable companions today.

Even?before the Second World War, two-way radiophones had assisted police and military personnel in staying connected through rapidly changing situations. These small, private networks, however, required bulky equipment and were inaccessible to the public. Engineers raced to build a cellular phone network from the ground up in the early 1980s,?changing the way we communicate - forever. In 1984, Motorola introduced the DynaTAC which weighed more than a kilogram and was nicknamed "The Brick". It quickly became a must-have accessory and status symbol for wealthy financiers and entrepreneurs. Initially, cell phones were only used for talking. Voicemail and other features were gradually added, but the main purpose remained in conversation. Soon, mobile phone manufacturers realized that they could expand the utility and features of a mobile phone by integrating other technologies into the phones. As we stepped into the late 19th century, the cell phone's purpose shifted from a verbal communication tool to a multimedia tool making it more of a smartphone.

The first smartphones provided email access as well as the ability to use the phone as a fax machine, pager, and address book. We now use our cell phones less for making calls and more for surfing the internet, making notes, navigation, and updating our social media status. The cell phones of today have replaced other gadgets such as cameras, video recorders, camcorders, etc. offering an exceptionally high resolution and visual quality. The amount of ease these smartphones have started offering resulted in more and more people embracing technology with open arms, eventually skyrocketing the sales of these devices. There is cut-throat competition in the market with various smartphone brands trying to meet the ever-growing demand for the most recent technology amongst users. This exponential rise in the steady sales of the devices has also contributed to waste streams and carbon emissions. The precious metals and materials needed to manufacture smartphones are becoming extremely scarce. The Royal Society of Chemistry estimates that six key elements for mobile phones will be depleted within the next 100 years. It is also worth noting that these elements will be required for many key energy transition applications, some of which do not even exist today.

When it comes to smartphone waste streams, the world is sitting on a literal goldmine. It is both economically efficient and environmentally beneficial to ensure that these materials remain in circulation for as long as possible before being discarded, which is why individuals, organisations, and businesses must adopt a circular economy to become more sustainable in the future.