Waseem Mirza, a well-known actor and presenter, found himself in a dilemma when he realized that his trusty phone, which was still in good working condition, would no longer receive security updates from Samsung. Feeling frustrated at the thought of having to upgrade his phone prematurely, Mirza expressed his desire to extend the life of his device.
“I just wish there was a way to get more life out of this old bit of tech,” Mirza lamented. He highlighted the financial and environmental costs associated with upgrading phones, noting that a significant portion of carbon emissions from mobile phones come from their manufacturing process.
Fortunately, Mirza discovered a solution in the form of /e/OS, a free operating system that extends the life of devices no longer supported by manufacturers. Developed by Gaël Duval, /e/OS aims to provide a greener alternative to traditional software by enabling older devices to receive the latest security updates and run efficiently.
With the support of /e/OS, Mirza’s old phone, along with over 200 other devices, can continue to function effectively even after manufacturers end support. This not only prolongs the lifespan of the devices but also reduces their environmental impact.
Moreover, the Software Carbon Intensity (SCI) specification, established as a global industry standard by the Green Software Foundation, helps measure the carbon footprint of software. By tracking emissions from both software operation and hardware usage, developers can work towards reducing the environmental impact of their products.
As the ICT sector’s greenhouse gas emissions are projected to increase significantly in the coming years, the focus on software sustainability is becoming more crucial. While challenges remain in optimizing software for energy efficiency, initiatives like ecoCode are providing developers with tools to enhance their code and reduce resource consumption.
Despite the obstacles, industry experts believe that decarbonizing software is a feasible and necessary step towards mitigating environmental impact. With the growing awareness and commitment from major companies, the push for sustainable software development is gaining momentum.
In a world where technology plays an increasingly prominent role, individuals like Waseem Mirza are leading the way in advocating for greener, more sustainable practices in the tech industry. As the demand for eco-friendly solutions continues to rise, the future of technology looks brighter with innovations like /e/OS paving the way for a more environmentally conscious approach to software development.
