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Fixed Mobile Handsets Special Feature

Sony's jellyphone

03 April 2007
Telecoms Special Features

 Hard like rock, soft like water...

You may remember the paper phone concept, those much touted "disposable devices" from a couple of years ago that since seem to have disappeared into the ether.

Only it seems that Sony Labs in Tokyo is still toying with the idea of using a form of origami as a way of making the most of limited pocket real estate.

According to a patent filed by Sony boffins, the use of electrorheological fluid in the construction of mobile phones or handheld computers could render such devices capable of being folded or squashed up when carried only to resort to a hardened form when in use.

By using an electrorheological fluid, the hardness, tension, texture and shape of the device can be electrically controlled simply by passing a low powered current through the fluid, turning it into a gel, and can be reversed by removing the current.

According to the patent, the power required is minimal and the device makes the transition between forms in milliseconds.

The full patent can be seen here.

 

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