Zombitron: towards a toolbox for repurposing obsolete smartphones into new interactive systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates transforming obsolete smartphones into interactive systems, exemplified by a musical controller, and discusses creating an open-source toolkit to facilitate such repurposing for broader use.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to repurposing old smartphones into interactive devices and discusses designing an open-source toolkit for accessible creation of such systems.

Findings

Successful design of a smartphone-based musical controller

Identification of hardware and software barriers in repurposing

Proposal of a web-based approach for accessible device customization

Abstract

This article explores the possibilities of reusing obsolete smartphones and tablets to build new interactive systems. Taking the case of a musical instrument, I present my research into the design of a controller made from various of these obsolete smartphones. From the diagnostic stage to the creation of a new autonomous electronic object, I document the process, the barriers and the levers encountered. Based on these explorations and discussions with two professional musicians, I provide several insights into the software and hardware aspects, with a view to continuing this work, towards the creation of an open-source toolkit enabling anyone to build new interactive systems with old devices. I discuss the implication of how a high-level web-based approach could allow designers to enter the black box and foster permacomputing using smartphones.