Researchers at Canada's Queen's University and Arizona State University have come together to create a flexible E-Ink smartphone/computer. The Paperphone is a flexible smartphone that has nearly all of the functionality of a regular smartphone.
The Paperphone can make calls, play music and is even app-enabled. The device is being highly touted by its creators, who are saying that the thinfilm technology it's built with could make current smartphones obsolete in five to 10 years.
I don't necessarily see myself using a Paperphone in five to 10 years, but I do see promise with this technology. The touch controls are responsive, and the device's flexibility means that you will never have to worry about accidentally crushing or snapping your smartphone in half again.
Wrist-Wrapping Smartphones
The Paperphone is Being Touted as the Phone of the Future
Trend Themes
1. Flexible E-ink Technology - The development of flexible E-Ink technology offers opportunities for creating innovative and durable electronic devices.
2. Thinfilm Technology - The use of thinfilm technology in smartphones could potentially disrupt the current smartphone market and render traditional models obsolete in the next decade.
3. Responsive Touch Controls - The implementation of highly responsive touch controls in flexible smartphones opens up possibilities for enhanced user experiences and new interaction methods.
Industry Implications
1. Consumer Electronics - The consumer electronics industry could benefit from incorporating flexible E-Ink technology into their products, offering consumers more durable and unique devices.
2. Telecommunications - The telecommunications industry should seize the opportunity to explore and invest in thinfilm technology to stay ahead of future smartphone trends and remain competitive.
3. Touchscreen Technology - The touchscreen technology industry can tap into the potential of responsive touch controls in flexible smartphones to create innovative user interfaces for a variety of applications and devices.