Paper computer shows flexible future for smartphones and tablets

PaperPhone is the world's first nextgen, thin film smartphone and interactive paper computer. It is based on a 3.7" flexible electrophoretic (E Ink) display that does not consume electricity when it is not refreshed. Thinfilm sensors allow the phone to respond to bending of the screen to navigate pages in ebooks, play or pause mp3s, make phone calls, or navigate apps. A flexible wacom tablet allows users to draw on the screen with a pen as if it were a sheet of paper.
For more information visit http://www.hml.queensu.ca/paperphone

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• organic user interface
• paper computer
• flexible display
• e ink

[supersaxophone1]

(Someone gets hit by a car)

"CALL AN AMBULANCE!"

Don't worry, I have a phone!

"Lets see.... *bend* (mutters) nine *bend* one....*bend*....one....*bend* Hold on I messed up.... *bend*....

(Guy hit by a car looks up, "Are you fucking kidding me?"

[ReyzorF3z]

I think its stupid

[Truethrust]

What will be the use of this paper phone?people will roll it and will take into ass :-D

[geeknproud321]

Yes it is still true, in every way. Human fingers/touch screens are not precise enough to effectively control more powerful actions such as file system management, typing, gaming etc thus the very simplistic user interfaces and limited features. They are evolving very slowly and are just as clumsy as they've always been, with small steps made every year. The issue is that computers need very precise inputs, and touching/flexing gestures generated by the human body are not exact enough.

[fax8]

everyone saying that bending gestures are stupid/useless/slow/etc is, in my opinion missing the big picture here.. you are seeing the first working example of a very innovative kind of interaction which I think will be implemented in application which we can't even immagine... you can't judge it by what you see now in this video.

Think about the first touch interaction phones: everyone was saying keyboards where much better... now, is it still true?

[drshoggothshow]

Bendable tech? Cool. Bend gestures? No. Eventual bendable touchscreen devices? Yes. Bending provides no advantage over any input medium, either pointing with a finger or a trackball or whatever. Also bendable tech is cool, but disposable phones seems like a huge waste compared to owning a single dedicated device and if it's high value enough reselling it to someone to extend it's life. Still could be a cool sort of thing, like one call emergency phones in a first aid handbook.

[antony9721]

its definitely very primitive (going backwards) as it is slow and you have to bend it a lot even though it does sought of seem cool but just imagine pocket dialing using that... Owell inventions lead to inovation nice i guess.

[DrewHyPro]

Flexible technology is an advancement in technology, and it shows what we can do with technology, but it doesn't and should never function as a valid main component of interaction.

Flexible technology would be beneficial as an expansion of touch technology. Imagine you have a tablet-phone that is the size and thickness of a half-sheet of paper. Someone calls you. Fold the display twice so it's nice and compact, and the folding motion automatically answers the call.

[DrewHyPro]

A smartphone is both computer, where it functions and displays information, and a controller where a person controls the functions of the computer.

Controllers are about maximum control with minimal input. Anyone who plays video games knows that motion controls are a step backwards in this respect because it's easier to push a button than wave your arm three times. Technology is about making things easier, and pressing a section on glass is easier and quicker than bending the entire display.

[RaNeXoNexD]

I Think its STUPID too,i like soo much more touch phones