The University of Kentucky strives to be a place where technology and innovation intertwine with education.

Since 2019, the iPad Initiative, in partnership with Apple, has continued to level the technological playing field for UK students — enhancing in-class and online learning by building skillsets that contribute to future success.

Prioritizing accessibility, UK has provided more than 30,000 students with iPads over the past five years. And nearly 90% of students with iPads regularly use them for coursework, studying, note-taking and research.

In a perfect world, these UK-issued devices would last forever.

Everyone dreads the day their iPad no longer holds a charge or is no longer capable of handling software updates. But inevitably, an iPad will reach the end of its lifecycle.

But with the help of a Sustainability Challenge Grant, a research team in the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering is redefining sustainability for students with UK-issued iPads.

The Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing, in partnership with Smart Campus and the Office of Sustainability, has created the Digital iPad Product Passport (DiPP) — an innovative tool with the potential to transform how iPads are understood and used across campus.

“The UK-DiPP is not just another app; it’s a gateway to a wealth of information hidden beneath the surface of every iPad,” Fazleena Badurdeen, Ph.D., the Earl Parker Robinson Chair Professor in mechanical engineering, said. “This app can gather and share lifecycle data with students and relevant stakeholders at UK — encouraging the sustainable use of iPads on campus.”

The UK-DiPP app monitors two critical components, which contribute to the lifespan of an iPad:

• Charging patterns: This feature monitors daily and weekly charging habits of iPad users — guiding them towards more energy-efficient and cost-effective charging practices. Since electricity costs vary throughout the day, this functionality suggests the best times to plug-in your iPad. This not only aids in reducing electricity bills for the users but also eases the demand on the power grid during peak periods.

• Battery usage: This feature promotes optimal battery health conditions for iPads by monitoring how students manage their device’s battery on a daily and weekly basis. It tracks the duration the battery spends in different levels (0-20%, 20-40%, and 40-100%). Keeping the battery above 20% is crucial for maintaining its longevity, as falling below this threshold frequently can harm battery capacity. To prevent damage, this feature provides insights into a user’s battery usage and sends a notification to the user when the battery drops below 40%, encouraging users to charge before reaching the critical 20% mark. Using this feature, students can avoid the reduction in their battery capacity over time.

“It will also offer user-friendly tips, such as when to charge the iPad to maintain optimal battery life. If there’s any damage to the battery, the app also offers resources available to students on campus,” said Jun Ko, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering and a research assistant on the project. “Without sharing any personal data, the app also allows the project team to analyze the data and provide the university with insights on extending the life of the iPads by extending the battery life.”

This knowledge allows students to make informed decisions about their devices from the moment they download the app — encouraging a more responsible approach to technology usage and disposal.

“We have multiple goals we want to achieve through this app. The first is to extend the iPad’s battery life,” Ko said. “The second is to minimize the electricity cost and energy consumption. The third is to minimize the carbon footprint caused by iPads on campus.”

“We are very excited to take this project from idea to implementation,” Badurdeen added, “and we’re very excited to make a contribution to the university enhancing its sustainability performance goals by applying our research.”

The app currently has limited access to battery charging pattern and usage data and the research team is actively exploring ways to continue enhancing the app, which will also improve its usefulness to students and the campus community.

You can learn more in the video above. And the UK-DiPP app can be downloaded here.