#space2

In the early 1960s, the computer mouse was accepted by NASA to make computers more useful and interactive (Dunbar, 2007). Since then, it has become a crucial part of many lives. If you turned around your mouse right now, there’s a high chance that it’s manufactured in China. The electrical and electronic equipment industry is very important to the Chinese economy- which comes at an enormous cost to the environment. In 2001, it was estimated that around 1.5 million tons of e-waste was imported illegally (Eugster, Hischier & Duan, 2007). This number has likely increased since then with the growing dependence on electronic products.  

Source: NASA

The electrical impacts of manufacturing computer mice also depend on the percentage of fossil-fuel-based electricity production. The higher it is, the higher the damage to natural resources. Like many other electronic products, toxic elements and/or compounds are used, which affect human health and the environment. Computer mice are 5% ferrous metal (measured by component weight), 11% printed circuit board, 52% plastic, and 32% wires. Smaller devices (including mice) have higher percentages of plastic versus metal, which is even worse for the environment (Musson et al., 2006). 

A test following the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (lead leaching of electronic devices) was done on the materials making up typical computer mice. Out of fifteen mice tested, all of them exceeded 5mg-Pb/L. Such brands tested were Logitech, Dexxa, Manhatan, and Microsoft. This test suggests that mice thrown out into landfills could harm the environment and leachate quality (Musson et al., 2006). 

With the growing dependence and demand for technology paired with their short lifetimes, we see more and more e-waste. Unsurprisingly, the top offenders are the EU and the US. The US is responsible for 24% of the world’s e-waste with the EU coming up at 22.5%. While the EU and the US have a high responsibility for all the waste, 13% of it is managed and recycled by developed countries. Communities living near recycling sites, especially pregnant women and fetuses and children, are highly vulnerable to the negative effects. Developmental neurotoxicants are present in e-waste in the air, water (from community wells), and soil. 

What can they do? Recycling practices need to be changed in developing countries to decrease the number of people exposed (Kumar and Jain, 2014). What can we do? Like I have said time after time, a lot of change can happen if you actively stop yourself from participating in throwaway culture. Minimize the cost of computer mice to us and the environment by valuing the electronic products you own and remembering to recycle responsibly and properly.

Use and effect of lighting within Spectrum was immensely impacted by provided light sources and required LUX levels needed to ensure the success of various programmes.

Throughout the space there is a range of several lighting possibilities. The most interchangeable being track lighting, this allows for movement in certain areas to become brighter or dimmer, warmer or cooler based on the present programme and area within. Other ambient sources trace the building, this being wall washers and pendant lighting.

Influenced by several concepts and existing designs, Spectrum has been drawn using the negatives of space with the tracing of natural and ambient light. Spectrum follows the possibility of change. Through from day to night, across days to months. It’s structure and form work with the existing site to create an experience that captures the essence of light, responding to those enter and alter the space.