The fight against climate change is getting harder, and a recurring point of conflict is technology. Electronic waste reaches critical levels, while major manufacturers refuse to adopt policies that allow repairing and/or upgrading their products. That takes us to Peru, where we find the WAWA Laptop project offering two solutions in one: on one hand, we have an accessible computer for the entire educational environment, based on open source software. And on the other, its main structure is made of wood, which lasts between 10 and 15 years with good care, and does not contribute to the growing e-waste crisis.
The e-waste problem
What do you do with your old laptops? Do you leave them in a drawer gathering dust, try to sell them or get them into new hands, or simply throw them in the trash? Believe it or not, a very important part of that hardware follows the third route, and it is not difficult to blame their manufacturers. Many of those laptops are almost impossible to upgrade or repair, the cost of their batteries is stratospheric, and they use very short software cycles, three strong examples of planned obsolescence.
The WAWA Laptop
On the other side, we discover developments like the WAWA Laptop from the Carrasco family. It is the first laptop computer created in Peru, but unlike any model we can find in a store, WAWA Laptop has a sustainable design, easy to maintain, modify and upgrade, flexible thanks to its adoption of open source software, and with a comprehensive plan that goes beyond "give a computer to children", a point that official programs often completely ignore.
https://old.neoteo.com/mini-robot-casero-con-una-pinza-de-madera/If there is one feature to highlight about the WAWA Laptop, it is its case made of recycled wood fiber (read MDF). The main parts fit together perfectly, which enables quick access to its interior. I admit that the details about the hardware are not too extensive, but it is clear that WAWA Laptop is based on SBC platforms similar to the Raspberry Pi (I suppose nothing prevents us from installing an original Pi in it), compatible with Android and other Linux flavors. An additional advantage is external access to the entire GPIO, making electronics and robotics projects easier to carry out.
As if that were not enough, the WAWA Laptop includes a battery pack that allows its use with solar panels, further improving its eco-friendly and sustainable profile. The computer is already part of several pilot tests in educational institutions, and it is expected to advance to rural areas of more cities in Peruvian territory.
Official site: Click here
