{"ID":2884787,"CreatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","UpdatedAt":"2026-06-01T04:54:23.091178241Z","DeletedAt":null,"paper_url":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.06354","arxiv_id":"2508.06354","title":"Zombitron: towards a toolbox for repurposing obsolete smartphones into new interactive systems","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.","short_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 autonom...","url_abs":"https://arxiv.org/abs/2508.06354","url_pdf":"https://arxiv.org/pdf/2508.06354v1","authors":"[\"Clara Rigaud\"]","published":"2025-08-08T14:33:16Z","proceeding":"cs.HC","tasks":"[\"cs.HC\"]","methods":"[\"LoRA\"]","has_code":false}