A revolutionary new smartphone has been developed, which is foldable and flexible enough to be converted into a laptop and a tablet!
Human Media Lab at Queen’s University, Canada has created this unique smartphone, aptly called “Paperfold”.
As per the research papers, Paperfold has been described as “A Shape Changing Mobile Device with Multiple Reconfigurable Electrophoretic Magnetic Display Tiles”.
This unique technology would be unveiled at ACM CHI 2014 conference in Toronto, which is widely regarded as one of the most important conferences of interactive technology in the world.
This shape-changing smartphone allows its users to open up not one, not two but three different electrophoretic displays as and when required. These displays are detachable from one another, and depending on the necessity, can be converted into a smartphone, a tablet or a laptop within no time.
The most interesting part is that the device is laced with artificial intelligence which makes this device a very powerful gadget.
For example, it will automatically recognize the size which the screens currently has been converted into, and depending on that it will make the necessary changes in the graphics and user features. If the user has selected a laptop mode, then the device will immediately showcase a virtual keypad at the bottom using which the user can input text and numbers.
Say a user wants to access an address on Google Maps:
– If the user flattens all three displays, then the device changes it’s views to a Google Maps screen, spanning all the three screens
– If the user shapes the device into a convex globe, then the Google Maps address would be displayed in an actual Earth view
– If you fold the Paperfold into a 3Dbuilding shape, then the device will automatically pick a Google Sketchup Model of the building and convert the device into an architectural model that can be printed on 3D printers!
Here is a video will shows the incredible possibilities of Paperfold.
Dr. Vertegaal, a professor in the School of Computing and Director of the Human Media Lab at Queen’s said, “In PaperFold, each display tile can act independently or as part of a single system. It allows multiple device form factors, providing support for mobile tasks that require large screen real estate or keyboards on demand, while retaining an ultra-compact, ultra-thin and lightweight form factor.”
The inspiration for such an amazing flexible and portable device came from Paper, which can be folded and molded into every possible shape and size, depending on the requirement. We have only seen such technology in science fiction movies. But now, it has become a reality.