Scientists Make a Touch Tablet That Rolls and Scrolls (techcrunch.com)

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Research scientists at Queen's University's Human Media Lab have built a prototype touchscreen device that's neither smartphone nor tablet but kind of both -- and more besides. The device, which they've christened the MagicScroll, is inspired by ancient (papyrus/paper/parchment) scrolls so it takes a rolled-up, cylindrical form factor -- enabled by a flexible 7.5inch touchscreen housed in the casing. This novel form factor, which they made using 3D printing, means the device can be used like an erstwhile Rolodex (remember those?!) for flipping through on-screen contacts quickly by turning a physical rotary wheel built into the edge of the device. (They've actually added one on each end.) Then, when more information or a deeper dive is required, the user is able to pop the screen out of the casing to expand the visible display real estate. The flexible screen on the prototype has a resolution of 2K. So more mid-tier mobile phone of yore than crisp iPhone Retina display at this nascent stage. The scientists also reckon the scroll form factor offers a pleasing ergonomically option for making actual phone calls too, given that a rolled up scroll can sit snugly against the face. The team posted a video showing the prototype in action. They will be presenting the project at the MobileHCI conference on Human-Computer Interaction in Barcelona next month.

Comments

Um..... K

[markdavis]

>"The flexible screen on the prototype has a resolution of 2K. So more mid-tier mobile phone of yore"

Right, because a 6" screen should be 8K or 24K or 300K or something like that. So important for using that small, flexible, curled, toilet paper roll thing... nothing else in the design matters much when it is only 2K.

Re: This is stupid.

[tsa]

I watched the video too. Not sure if it's gay, but you must have a purse or very big pockets to carry that thing around in. Furthermore it's clumsier than a normal iPad and the screen moves when you touch it. Sorry guys, but it's back to the drawing board for you.

1990s television show

[davidwr]

There was a 1990s sci-fi show, Earth, Final Conflict I think, where people had a vertical version of this called a "global."

It was basically a roll-up-into-a-tube cell phone/computer.