New mobiles that change shape are 'only a matter of time'

[mmadhankumar]

Made from new intelligent plastics and metals with a memory they will turn into a games console by bending at the edges to give users better grip.

Or, to maintain privacy, the screen will flip up when a password is being typed so passers-by can't see private information.

The scientists who have invented the shape-altering phones say they could even transform into a sphere to serve as a stress ball.

Dr Anne Roudaut, who led the ‘morphees’ research project at Bristol University said as touch screens continue to evolve it will only be a matter of time until mobile phones automatically change shape to fit whatever they are being used for.

“We believe future mobile phone devices will be able to change shape on their own,” said Dr Roudaut. “For example if you have an app for a game and select it your phone will automatically change shape for you to play it. The best way to describe it is it’s a bit like Transformers.

“Shapes are so important for us as humans. Everything we manipulate around us is to do with shape. Our phones do so much but are always the same shape.”

Dr Roudant has spent the last year working on the project with Professor Sriram Subramanian, from the University of Bristol's Department of Computer Science, experimenting with different materials that can change shape and could in the future be used in mobile phones. They have built six prototypes the team harnessing the latest technologies to create ‘shape shifting’ material, using intelligent plastics, which could in the future be used for mobile phones.

They will present their research at the CHI 2013 Conference in Paris on Monday, which focuses on human-computer interaction.

Dr Roudant added: “It sounds really futuristic, but if you look at the research we have done working with different materials, we can already use a current and make materials change shape and expand.

“So for example, if you are stressed and you select an app to help you, your phone will change into a sphere so you can grasp it.”

Read More: Mobile phones to change shape in the palm of your hand - Telegraph