While we are sitting here waiting for the new Apple iPhone, Nokia has offered some concept designs for future mobile phone users. Here is a look at a few of them:
The Morph Concept:
The Morph concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. This device concept showcases nanoscale technologies that will potentially create a world of radically different devices that open up an entirely new spectrum of possibilities.
Flexible & Changing Design Nanotechnology enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. Fibril proteins are woven into a three dimensional mesh that reinforces thin elastic structures. Using the same principle behind spider silk, this elasticity enables the device to literally change shapes and configure itself to adapt to the task at hand.
A folded design would fit easily in a pocket and could lend itself ergonomically to being used as a traditional handset. An unfolded larger design could display more detailed information, and incorporate input devices such as keyboards and touch pads.
Even integrated electronics, from interconnects to sensors, could share these flexible properties. Further, utilization of biodegradable materials might make production and recycling of devices easier and ecologically friendly.
Self-Cleaning Nanotechnology also can be leveraged to create self-cleaning surfaces on mobile devices, ultimately reducing corrosion, wear and improving longevity. Nanostructured surfaces, such as ?Nanoflowers? naturally repel water, dirt, and even fingerprints utilizing effects also seen in natural systems.
Advanced Power Sources Nanotechnology holds out the possibility that the surface of a device will become a natural source of energy via a covering of ?Nanograss? structures that harvest solar power. At the same time new high energy density storage materials allow batteries to become smaller and thinner, while also quicker to recharge and able to endure more charging cycles.
Sensing The Environment Nanosensors would empower users to examine the environment around them in completely new ways, from analyzing air pollution, to gaining insight into bio-chemical traces and processes. New capabilities might be as complex as helping us monitor evolving conditions in the quality of our surroundings, or as simple as knowing if the fruit we are about to enjoy should be washed before we eat it. Our ability to tune into our environment in these ways can help us make key decisions that guide our daily actions and ultimately can enhance our health.
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The Eco Sensor Concept
The concept consists of two parts ? a wearable sensor unit which can sense and analyze your environment, health, and local weather conditions, and a dedicated mobile phone.
The sensor unit will be worn on a wrist or neck strap made from solar cells that provide power to the sensors. NFC (near field communication) technology will relay information by touch from the sensors to the phone or to or to other devices that support NFC technology.
Both the phone and the sensor unit will be as compact as possible to minimize material use, and those materials used in the design will be renewable and/or reclaimed. Technologies used inside the phone and sensor unit will also help save energy.
Stay in touch with your health and local environment To help make you more aware of your health and local environmental conditions, the Nokia Eco Sensor Concept will include a separate, wearable sensing device with detectors that collect environment, health, and/or weather data.
You will be able to choose which sensors you would like to have inside the sensing device, thereby customizing the device to your needs and desires. For example, you could use the device as a ?personal trainee? if you were to choose a heart-rate monitor and motion detector (for measuring your walking pace).
Here are some other examples of customized sensing devices you could build:
Environmental monitoring Personal health Weather monitoring
A mobile device that builds on the "three Rs" Reduce, reuse and recycle ? the Nokia Eco Sensor Concept is built upon all three of these underlying principles of waste reduction. Emphasis will be placed on materials use and reuse in the phone?s construction: Printed electronics Bio-materials Reclaimed materials
A phone for the energy-conscious consumer To complete the Nokia Eco Sensor Concept, the phone and detector units will be optimized for lower energy consumption than phones in 2007 in both the manufacturing process and use. Alternative energy sources, such as solar power, will fuel the sensor unit?s power usage. Thus, we aim to create a self-powered sensing device to reduce dependence on external, non-renewable energy sources.
Electronics Display screens Alternative energy sources
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People First Concept
The concept is taking three human universals of the way people think about communication ? time, lists, and people ? it exams new user interface ideas.
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Wears in, Not Out Concept
The concept explores how people could potentially upgrade their devices digitally rather than physically in the future giving people an additional choice on how they use and update their mobile phones.
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Redmade Concept
Remade is a concept that explores potential new ideas for the future, and is part of Nokia?s ongoing work looking at how it can help people make more sustainable choices.
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