Next steps in design are flexible phones and a full touch sensitive keypad
Some large companies have shown their latest design statements in the past weeks and we will mention and discuss them here. We also give you a small peak in the mobile phone market of tomorrow.
Fashion, design, feeling! Three key words in the current market that are still increasing in importance. One of the main questions for a lot of consumers is the question if a device looks nice and if it fits his or her way of life. This way of deciding to buy a new device will increase even more in the upcoming years when newly developed form factors will emerge and new user controls will be shown. Main item within these new developments is the user ability and the ease of use of these new products. Current design statements will show a part of this future!
The first device we will show is the new BenQ Mobile BlackBox design concept also kwown as BenQ Siemens Ruby. The new device is a candybar model with integrated antenna and a touchpad sensitive system that streches over the complete front of the device. The complete touchpad sensitive keypad is divided into several parts that can be pressed or selected.
When a certain function is selected, the front and touchpad changes to another perspective. Four perspecitives are shown in the picture below and correspond to certain programs and options inside the device. Each has it own functionality and has it own key positions on the keypad.
We expect the new "Ruby" to hit the market somewhere in 2007. The device is on the roadmap of BenQ Siemens products and BenQ Mobile expects to show this device to the world in the upcoming months. No clear information on when and how is available at this moment.
BenQ is not the only company addressing this concept. LG has also mentioned to us that they will bring a new Windows Mobile 5.0 smartphone on the basis of a full front sensitive touchpad. Only the LG member will have a main TFT LCD display of 65.536 colors. "Ruby" will not have a "main" display. It will be a part of the touch senstive system.
Other concepts have been addressed by Nokia. Such as the new AEON concept, which shows the same touchpad-like system as BenQ shows on the new BlackBox concept. The front of the AEON is divided into two parts. The upper part consists of the main display and the lower section is the keypad. The complete front can also act as a main display for showing pictures, screensaver or other data. To control the device the lower part will indicate the controls and the upper part the related information.
Another concept which will become reality within two to three years is the flexible phone. In 2005 Yanko Design made a clear design of what it could like. Check it out yourself and think about the fact that this will become reality within three years. Flexible screens will be around at that time and will open up a lot of new possibilities.
As you can see design will take a next step in the upcoming period. Especially controls of the new devices are a main key issue within these designs. Specifications inside the device will not be the main issue here. Colors, design statements, looks, new materials and different user controls will be more important giving the user a mobile phone which addresses his or her feeling. It will be a interesting period in which fashion, design, feeling will increase as driven factors!
Source Nokia 888: Yanko Design
