Using soft materials, this Soft Phone concept is a finalist in Tancher Award 2008. The interface features its fabric material, to define the function modules by extrusion and fold. This soft phone concept is based on the fabric digital display technology, which will lead to a new experience in more flexible cell phone operation. Jian Qian says “The Bluetooth earphone buckled to the string can charge the phone by Electromagnetic Induction. The material of the interface is fabric while the one of clip and circle is silica gel, which makes the phone very soft and portable.”
Different directions of extruding make different functions for the phone and the camera.
Camera Usage (Extruding vertically)
Extruding to a little extend: focus (take photos) ,
Extruding to a larger extend: pulling the trigger
Release: Photo finish
Designer : Jian Qian
Another innovative design concept from Nokia, the morph concept. Featured in The Museum of Modern Art ?Design and The Elastic Mind? exhibition, the Morph concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. Developed by NRC (Nokia Research Center) in collaboration with the Cambridge Nanoscience Centre (United Kingdom), Morph is a concept phone that using nanotechnology which enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. Users should be able to transform their cell phone into different shapes.
From the website :
“Morph concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices: * Newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials blend more seamlessly with the way we live
* Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
* Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
* Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
* Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices”
We probably see this technology another 5-7 years in the future, by using nanotechnology, hopefully can lead to low cost manufacturing solutions and the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.
Source : Nokia
