The Impact of User Choice on Energy Consumption

Hardware and software engineers are instrumental in developing energy-efficient mobile systems. Unfortunately, the last mile of energy efficiency relies on end users´ choices and requirements. Imagine a user who has no power outlet access and must remain productive on the laptop´s battery. How does this person maximize battery life, yet remain productive? What does the user have to give up to keep working? This article highlights the perils that users face and the ultimate responsibility they have for their mobile devices´ energy consumption. Using multiple scenarios, the authors show that executing a task can consume more or less energy depending on user requirements and software choices.