"Left in 'Watch Later' Exhibition" Report: Thinking About Environmental Issues Through Digital Waste

Click here for the "Left in 'Watch Later' Exhibition" announcement page

Digital waste refers to "files and data that do not need to be uploaded to the cloud." The author also searches for information daily and keeps data, such as screenshots taken to save the trouble of searching again, for which it is now unclear why they were saved in the first place. I want to delete them because they are taking up cloud capacity, but it is hard to get motivated because it takes time and effort. However, it is said that this puts a burden on the environment. This exhibition takes up such familiar digital waste and displays it on panels.

How was this exhibition, which focuses on unnecessary but stored digital waste, created? This exhibition is managed by the Digital Waste Project of the "Keio University Student Conference," an organization that makes recommendations to the President toward the realization of SDGs at Keio University. I interviewed the representative, Takeru Sugiyama, about the thoughts behind the exhibition and future activities.

The inspiration for addressing the issue of digital waste came from a class one of the project members was taking.

"In an SFC class, a member learned that continuing to store data uses electricity, and the accumulation of that leads to an environmental burden. When we all looked into it based on that, surprisingly large numbers came up," says Mr. Sugiyama.

In fact, storing data on the cloud constantly uses electricity, leading to CO₂ emissions. It is estimated that data storage (cloud use) by Keio University as a whole alone emits approximately 128 tons of CO₂ per year, and absorbing that would require about 15,000 Japanese cedar trees.

One of the major features of this exhibition is the reality that makes visitors think, "I get it...!" At the stage of gathering materials for the exhibits, they initially created the exhibition panels almost entirely using AI. However, Mr. Sugiyama felt that "if it's all AI, people won't empathize when they see it. It's not fun without reality."

Therefore, actual photos were included in the exhibition. Mr. Sugiyama showed us a panel using a "blurry" photo that happened to remain on his own smartphone, laughing as he said, "Even though I'm the leader, I still have digital waste." There was also a series of photos taken while doing a forward roll. He reportedly went to a park by the river to actually take them.

Furthermore, detailed touches have been applied to the exhibits. For example, the panel for "a QR code used for something or other" allows you to actually scan the QR code. The words "Keio Super" appear in screenshots of supermarket flyers and receipts. It is evident that they paid attention to the finest details.

The project aims to tackle environmental issues from familiar places within "all of Keio." However, because there were many things I could strongly relate to as a student, I asked if the target of the "Left in 'Watch Later' Exhibition" was indeed students, and received an unexpected answer.

"Keio students, of course, but we are also targeting staff and faculty members."

Among documents for students, such as class materials and handouts, there may be things that have become unnecessary but have not been discarded. Precisely because they are in a position to handle a lot of data daily, it cannot be denied that unnecessary files accumulate unknowingly, increasing the CO₂ emissions of Keio as a whole. That is why he spoke powerfully, saying, "Through this exhibition, I first want everyone to become widely aware of the concept of digital waste itself."

The "Left in 'Watch Later' Exhibition" is not a one-off project but is positioned as one of the projects of the Keio University Student Conference to "reduce digital waste at Keio University." This exhibition was held this time at Fujiyama Memorial Hall (Fujiyama Kinenkan) on the Hiyoshi Campus, but they are also considering expanding to more locations, such as the Mita Media Center, in the future. Most recently, "Digital Cleanup Week" will be held at Hiyoshi Campus from July 6 to 10. Kit Kats will reportedly be distributed to participants who delete 1MB or more on the spot. Please participate and practice deleting digital waste. The accumulation of such environmental actions will lead to the realization of "all Keio students cooperating to protect Keio's environment."