Tomorrow's Cell Phones

bart_scriv writes "Businessweek looks at the future of the cell phone, starting with some existing button-free prototypes and moving on to more outlandish and whimsical designs. From the article: 'New technologies drive many of the new designs. One example: Synaptics ClearPad, a new type of touch screen that will become commercially available later this year. Unlike today's touch screens, which aren't entirely transparent and often not very sensitive — we've all had to endlessly tap one with a stylus to get a response — ClearPad is clear, so it can be used as a sensitive overlay to a cell-phone display. Another innovation likely to change the cell-phone's appearance: flexible displays. An electronic ink screen prototype, developed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics and startup E-Ink, is thin and flexible like paper so it can be worn wrapped around a cell phone. Users can unwrap it to view a map on a larger screen. Eventually, the display could be used to watch video.'"

Comments

misfeature

[Lord Ender]

The most important use of the cell phone is to get a girl's number. In a loud club, a phone without buttons would fail at this most important of duties.

Re:misfeature

[Anonymous Coward]

Talking, to a girl, at a club?! You must be new here.

Not important to Slashdotters

[winkydink]

The only way a slashdotter gets a girls number is when it's written on the restraining order.

Re:Not important to Slashdotters

[Anonymous Coward]

The only way a slashdotter gets a girls number is when it's her MAC address

Re:Not important to Slashdotters

[devjj]

You make the unfortunate, but common, assumption that all slashdotters are after girls' numbers in the first place.

Re:Not important to Slashdotters

[Korin43]

Hex doesn't contain letters. It contains extra numbers A through F.

Helloooo?

[$RANDOMLUSER]

From TFA:

In mid-2005, the average person bought a new cell phone every 18 months. But by May of this year, the cycle had shortened to 17.6 months, according to a J.D. Power & Associates survey of 18,740 consumers. "Cell phones [are becoming] so increasingly personal, they tend to be a slave to fashion,"

Yah. I think we can all see how that statistical fashion trend is accelerating. :-/

No 6, 7 of 9.

[krell]

"This is Slashdot. Your comment makes no sense."

Not if the girl's number is No. 6; or 7 of 9.

Secret Compartment...finally

[mcguiver]

I am glad that they started including a secret compartment for valuables. That way if someone tries mugging me then they will only see the 120 carrats of diamonds and not think that I have anything worth stealing.

Re:What I really want

[patrixmyth]

Right you are, but being able to kinetically charge my phone by bouncing it would also be cool. Excuse me while I head out to patent the "Happy Fun Ball" phone. It would require a Lithium battery of course.

WARNING: Do Not TAUNT The "Happy Fun Ball" Phone. If your "Happy Fun Ball" Phone begins to glow or grows warm, set it down immediately and move to a safe area.

The Ultimate Buttonless phone

[ZombieSquirrel]

Here's my idea. Instead of buttons they could have a small plastic wheel with holes along the circumference that represent the numbers 0-9. You stick your finger in the desired number hole and spin the wheel to a starting point. Release the wheel and it spins a back to it original position, inputing that number. No more buttons! Just one plastic wheel with finger holes in it. To hell with having to "button" all these phone numbers. I want to "wheel" all my phone numbers. I wonder if I should patent this?

Re:Cheap+one use

[flosofl]

...but I'd be all for it having a slimmer profile in my pants.

You're not a guy, are you?

Re:Call recording

[soft_guy]

ou can prove to them over the phone what SOB's they are

You don't need to use this when you call me, though. I already know I am an SOB.