Behind a click...

What’s behind your click? (In this example, you are sending a Whatsapp message to a contact).

Your message goes to a cell tower such as a 4G antenna…

It is transmitted to your ISP’s server…

Then the signal crosses the ocean via submarine cables… (The Whatsapp service would be hosted in San Jose in the USA).

Your signal finally reaches the data center server of the service in question… The server processes your click and finally sends your message to the recipient.

This data in turn crosses the ocean via submarine cables…

This data is transmitted to the recipient’s Internet service provider…

They arrive on the recipient’s internet box… (Whatsapp is available on mobile via its app and also on computer via a webapp).

And (finally) the recipient receives their message on their terminal.

So the message you sent to your contact (for example from your region), traveled thousands of miles before reaching him thanks to a whole chain of machines.

NB: If your message is sent to multiple recipients, multiply the return data path by that much 😬

Digital is far from immaterial! ‍The manufacture of all these terminals, servers and boxes consumes many resources and energy…

And each of these terminals, servers and boxes consumes energy to run and be used.

The digital sector relies on physical facilities that consume energy (4% of global consumption) and resources (more than 50 different metals) for their manufacture and use. The impact of digital on the environment is real.

Let’s design digital services that are more sober, more sustainable, more respectful of the user and of the environment.