Adding 'green' to gadgets

gzlaser

ECOLOGICAL concerns play a growing part in decisions made by shoppers. Sensing that trend, companies at the 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week were eager to show off their green technologies.

Horizon fuel cells

Shanghai-based Horizon Fuel Cell Technologies displayed its fuel cell products. One of these is a generator that needs only water. Pouring liquid into a container the size of a large can of drink creates a fuel cell reaction with a chemical compound to generate power. One canister can power 10 laptops. They should be available for purchase this year.

Fujitsu Biblo

Later this year, Japanese manufacturer Fujitsu will launch a laptop whose case is made partially from corn oil. This makes the case biodegradable. But scientists question whether the new case will make much difference, since the corn-based plastic is mixed with a petroleum-based material. Using corn reduces the amount of CO2 emitted during production by 15 percent.

OLED

The Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen uses less power than normal TVs and delivers a better picture. It is expected as the green successor to flat-screen TVs. The material inside the screen produces its own light. Sony currently has an 11-inch OLED model on the market, but it costs $2,500.

Recycled cellphone

Discarded gadgets have become a big environmental problem. Nokia has come up with a solution: Make phones from recycled and reused parts. The Nokia 3110 Evolve is built from renewable material. The phone is currently available in Europe.