Alongside the HF mesh network, several shared PCs (relay PCs) will be installed in each Municipality, constructing an internet network. The shared PCs set up per Municipality handle information processing and large data storage, forming a network between Municipalities. They also coordinate with the HF mesh network to relay regional information and perform individual ID authentication.
However, since PCs have a high usage rate of rare metals, only a few units will be installed per Municipality. Assuming the Earth’s population is 10.4 billion ÷ average Municipality population of 55,000 = about 189,000 Municipalities, the minimum number of shared PCs to be produced is about 189,000 units, with slight increases as needed. The following table summarizes the sustainability of rare metals with this volume of shared PCs.
Rare Metal Sustainability with 189,000 Shared PCs
Metal | Usage per Unit | Total Usage (189,000 units) | Earth’s Minable Reserves | Percentage of Total Usage (%) | Estimated Sustainable Years |
Copper | approx. 1,000g (1kg) | approx. 189 tons | approx. 300 million tons | approx. 0.000063% | approx. 1.58 million years |
Aluminum | approx. 300g | approx. 56.7 tons | approx. 60 million tons | approx. 0.0000945% | approx. 1.06 million years |
Nickel | approx. 20g | approx. 3.78 tons | approx. 700 million tons | approx. 0.00000054% | approx. 185 million years |
Iron | approx. 1,500g (1.5kg) | approx. 283.5 tons | approx. 20 billion tons | approx. 0.000001415% | approx. 70.5 million years |
Cobalt | approx. 5g | approx. 0.945 tons | approx. 7 million tons | approx. 0.0000135% | approx. 7.41 million years |
Tantalum | approx. 2g | approx. 0.378 tons | approx. 150,000 tons | approx. 0.000252% | approx. 397,000 years |
Indium | approx. 1g | approx. 0.189 tons | approx. 16,000 tons | approx. 0.00118% | approx. 84,700 years |
Rare Earths | approx. 5g | approx. 0.945 tons | approx. 120 million tons | approx. 0.00000079% | approx. 127 million years |
Gold | approx. 0.5g | approx. 0.0945 tons | approx. 54,000 tons | approx. 0.000175% | approx. 571,000 years |
Silver | approx. 15g | approx. 2.835 tons | approx. 560,000 tons | approx. 0.000506% | approx. 197,500 years |
In the table, Indium has a relatively small minable reserve. Currently, most Indium use is concentrated in the ITO (indium tin oxide) layer of touch panels, so by using non-touch-panel displays, the Indium usage per unit can be reduced from about 1g to approximately 0.2–0.5g. Therefore, Prout Village assumes non-touch-panel displays as standard.
By 2025, over 90% of the world’s internet data communication is carried through submarine cables, with wireless satellite communication beginning to be introduced. Satellites use a large amount of rare metals, and submarine cables are huge in scale and very costly. Therefore, microwave relay networks become the prioritized infrastructure for Prout Village.
Comparison of Communication Infrastructure (Global-scale Network)
Item | Microwave Relay Network | Submarine Cable | Internet Satellites (e.g., Starlink) |
Main Rare Metals | Gallium, Neodymium, Samarium, Tantalum, Indium | Lead (heavy metal), very limited rare metals (localized) | Lithium, Vanadium, Gallium, Indium, Neodymium, Tantalum, many others |
Manufacturing Quantity (Worldwide) | Several hundred to several thousand units (2 units per relay station) | Major terrestrial relay points | Tens of thousands of satellites (e.g., planned 42,000 units) |
Rare Metal Amount per Device | Several grams to several tens of grams | Very small (per cable unit) | Over 300 kg (per satellite) |
Total Rare Metal Consumption (Worldwide) | Hundreds of grams to several kilograms | Less than tens of kilograms | Hundreds of tons |
Power Supply | Considering natural energy | Terrestrial stations use commercial power | Solar power in orbit but fossil fuels required for launch |
Replacement Frequency | About 10–20 years | 20–25 years | Lifespan 5–7 years → continuous launches needed |
Installation Flexibility | High (if line-of-sight on land) | Highly dependent on seabed terrain and international negotiations | Issues with orbital control, frequency interference, political problems |
Environmental Impact Risk | Very small | Limited (localized effects) + noise and disturbance during laying | Space debris problem and risk of satellite reentry |
Scale and Cost | Medium scale. Installation and maintenance costs relatively low | Extremely large scale. High cost for laying ships, international negotiations, long-distance cables | Massive scale. Large satellite manufacturing and frequent launches cause enormous costs |
Maintenance and Management | Relatively easy. Localized replacement and repair possible | Difficult. Submarine repairs expensive and lengthy | High cost. Short lifespan; satellite replacement depends on launches. Ground facilities also needed |
Microwave wireless communication is used for internet data transmission.
Microwave Wireless Communication
Item | Details |
Frequency Band | 1 GHz to 100 GHz (mainly 6 GHz to 80 GHz) |
Communication Speed | Tens of Mbps to several Gbps (depending on distance and equipment) |
Line-of-Sight Distance | About 50 km (assuming clear line of sight) |
Required Equipment | Parabolic antennas, relay devices, power supply |
Representative Examples | Communication between cellular base stations, long-distance networks in Africa |
Microwaves require relay stations. On land, these can be installed as needed, but for transmissions across seas, relay stations must be set up on islands between the land masses. The following table shows examples of long-distance intercontinental microwave relay routes where islands serve as relay points:
Intercontinental Microwave Communication Network: Example Sections for Relay Station Installation on Islands
Section / Region | Approximate Relay Section Distance | Necessity / Points for Relay Installation | Notes |
Hokkaido – Kamchatka (near Eurasian continent) | 50 km, 80 km | Divided into 2-3 sections considering line-of-sight; install on mountaintops or highlands | Difficult terrain but relay possible due to scattered islands and land |
Northern France – United Kingdom (near London) | 40 km, 50 km | Divided into multiple sections due to narrow strait; relatively easy installation | Often used together with submarine cables |
Indonesia – Northern Australia | 60 km, 80 km, 100 km | Multiple relay stations on islands necessary; relay divided into 3-5 sections | Islands densely packed, making installation relatively easy |
Aleutian Islands (longest sections within islands) | 40 km, 80 km | Multiple sections with installation on high places; weather conditions must be considered | Difficult terrain requires careful site selection |
Eastern end of Aleutian Islands – Alaska mainland | 50 km, 50 km | Good maritime line-of-sight; divided into 2 sections with relay stations | Relatively easy installation and stable communication quality |
South Pacific Islands (e.g., Fiji – Tonga) | 40 km, 60 km, 80 km | Multi-level relay stations needed on islands; power supply also important | Wide dispersed area with long distances between islands |
Caribbean Islands (e.g., Jamaica – Bahamas) | 30 km, 50 km | Many small islands clustered; realistic to relay over short distances and multiple sections | Advanced relay equipment installation can stabilize communication |
Unless there is a significant technological breakthrough, Prout Village will abolish personal internet use, retaining the internet only as a shared, autonomously managed intellectual window. One such shared device will perform the following functions:
Main Functions Per Shared PC
Field | Function | Notes |
① Autonomy & Elections | ・Resident ID authentication・Nomination Election | Signature-attached voting possible even offline → Can be aggregated via mesh network |
② Medical | ・Viewing, updating, and storing medical history |
|
③ Communication & Coordination | ・Management of microwave / HF mesh network hubs・Communication with other municipalities | Responsible for controlling and managing relay devices |
④ Disaster Prevention & Communication | ・Weather forecasts・Real-time communication (evacuation alerts, warnings) | Template messages can be sent in emergencies |
⑤ Infrastructure Management | ・Power generation status・Water flow and pressure management | When combined with sensors, can cover both control and recording |
The image of these communication terminals is roughly a return to the era of mobile phones and personal computers from around 1995 to 2000.
○Shared Items of Municipalities
Digital cameras and video equipment also contain many electronic components and rare metals, so if installed in personal devices, resource consumption and environmental burden would sharply increase. Therefore, even if produced, they will be installed as shared terminals for joint use, such as one per medical facility in each municipality.
The following items will be shared in quantities of a few units per municipality of about 55,000 people. Because these devices are difficult to make rare metal-free, if widely owned by the global population of 10.4 billion, resource depletion would accelerate, so personal ownership will not be allowed.
When manufacturing these devices, rare metals recycled from already-used urban mines will be used. Also, the products will be designed to minimize or eliminate rare metal use as much as possible, then designated as shared municipal property.
●Municipality Shared Assets (PCs, Cameras, Related Equipment)
Item | Design / Specification / Material Examples | Sustainability / Operational Points |
PC (Shared Terminal) | - Lightweight Linux-based OS, use of open-source software- Modular hardware (easy replacement and repair)- Rare metal reduction design (use of recycled metals)- Low-power CPU and energy-saving design- Mesh network connectivity supported | - Minimized number of units by shared use (1–2 units per municipality)- Designed for local repair and parts manufacturing- Software updates and expanded use for long-term service- Important data stored in distributed manner to reduce risk |
Camera (Shared Equipment) | - Optical components mainly glass lenses- Image sensor standard CMOS (recycled mass-produced parts)- Simplified drive mechanism, emphasis on manual adjustment- Easy-to-maintain casing design | - Optimize usage frequency through shared use- Enable long-term maintenance via disassembly and parts replacement- Limit video recording to reduce resource consumption and operational complexity |
Printer / Scanner | - Simple mechanical structure- Focus on parts replacement and manual repair- Use of recycled materials | - Improve sharing efficiency to reduce total units- Prioritize environmentally friendly consumables to reduce ecological impact |
Video / Audio Equipment | - Projector (incandescent lamp-based) | - Used for shared events and learning- Local power supply and repair for sustainability |
Server | - Modular design (easy replacement and repair)- Low-power CPU- Use of recycled metals- Distributed storage (RAID etc.)- Open-source OS and management tools | - Designed for long-term use- Establish local repair and maintenance systems- Operate with renewable energy sources- Ensure data redundancy via mesh network collaboration |
Storage Devices | - Long-life SSD/HDD models- Use of recycled materials
- Distributed and redundant design for data security and longevity |
|
Regarding cameras used by residents, instead of digital cameras, the technology of 1960s–1970s negative film cameras is adopted, video uses the technology of 1960s film video, and projectors use 1970s technology. These devices can shoot in color, operate electrically, and do not use rare metals. However, these cameras generate waste liquids such as developer, stop bath, fixer, and bleach (for video only), which are harmful to the environment, so it is essential to collect and neutralize them before returning them safely to nature.
For audio, the technology of 1970s cassette tapes and playback devices is first adopted. These also operate electrically and do not use rare metals. Since film video cannot record audio, if a device is created that can simultaneously set cassette tape and film video for recording and playback, synchronization of video and audio becomes possible. Such technology was also used in 1970s movie theaters.
With these technologies, they can be used worldwide without facing resource depletion, enabling sustainable use.
0 コメント