Sony Patent for Screens & Devices that Fold, Change Shape

[Cha-Ka]

Gamespot (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6152605.html) and New Scientist (http://www.newscientisttech.com/article/dn9271-invention-origami-gadgets.html) reports on Sony's recent patent make for some interesting reading...

Basically, the patent describes electronic devices and displays that are flexible enough to be rolled up or folded when not in use, but become rigid when a small electric current is passed through them. The application lists wide-ranging uses for the technology, and suggests it could be applied to cell phones, PDAs, PCs, remote controls, clocks, glasses, and even game systems.
Over the last couple of years I have read about Phillips (http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2005/03/01/34562/Roll-updisplay'intwoyears'.htm) and other companies (http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,115963,00.asp) developing flexible video screens, but this tension-changing stuff Sony's messing with is new to me. I imagine any home application of this technology is many years away or, more likely, complete science fiction.

[Mozgus]

Hmm, I thought we already had such things.

[Mr.Condescension]

There was a feature in Wired at least a year ago that talked about "the computers of the future" or some such. It talked about this type of technology, where a watch band can be taken off and uncurled into a touch screen, etc. There was another tech in development to make paper thin screens that are foldable so they are portable. So your phone could be the size of a razr but have a 6" screen. This looks to be the same sort of portable computing and entertainment technology to me. Pretty interesting stuff.

[jspeak32]

Quote:
Basically, the patent describes electronic devices and displays that are flexible enough to be rolled up or folded when not in use, but become rigid when a small electric current is passed through them...



Just like the bat-cape!

[Reanimated]

Whoa, Ken Kuturagi IS Batman.

[ToxicWaste]

The big picture is:

How could this be used for the PS3?

[pseudopseudo]

The big picture is:

How could this be used for the PS3?


Short answer? It won't be used for the PS3...

...wait, maybe they'll make a paper-thin DDR pad for DDR 4,19397-07 "Extreme" Edition that you can simply roll up when you're done.

Eesh.

[Demize99]

I want a roll up tablet pc please.

[Cha-Ka]

I didn't think any of this pointed to PS3. Perhaps the wearable and mighty morphin' PS4...

[lost]

Kutaragi-san did say by PS6 we'd be fucking about with biotech.

[Sl1pstream]

This would be great for advertising. Instead of using curtains, you have these things. Once you close those curtains and go to bed, these things turn into giant tv screens, running advertisements. You get paid for advertising whatever product is on there, while you're sleeping. Sellouts ftw.

[51|RandoM]

curtains? Think wallpaper, clothing, including anything that would normally be painted.

Underwear with a marquee, put in whatever saying fits the moment. :p

[Adam Blue]

At first it sounded like Sony tried to patent the design of the DS....

My friend is currently in Japan for school. He told me this is what they're studying right now. Something to do with nanotech.

[Karkian]

Kutaragi-san did say by PS6 we'd be fucking about with biotech.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but Kutaragi-san also said that the PS3 was too cheap.

[Siraris]

This is nothing more than an OLED display. They are already out now, but a bit rudamentary. I believe the estimate is something like 5 years until they become commonplace. A friend of mine worked on a prototype of an OLED display while in grad school. VERY cool stuff.

[Chameleo]

i saw an article in 'der spiegel' about siemens doing research with this... they were developing a roll-up PDA. i wonder what came of it.

in the same section was an article about a cel phone that replaced one of your molar teeth. it was implanted into your jaw and sound was transferred via vibration through your jawbone. you talked as normal and it picked up the sound in your mouth..... dunno what became of that either.

i read these articles more than 2 years ago now.

[sol740]

The question is not whether it rolls up or not, but will it be bursting with fruit flavor, and will it get stuck to the sides of your teeth.

[Cha-Ka]

in the same section was an article about a cel phone that replaced one of your molar teeth. it was implanted into your jaw and sound was transferred via vibration through your jawbone. you talked as normal and it picked up the sound in your mouth..... dunno what became of that either.


If this would quiet down people who use their cellphones in public then I'd like to volunteer to get the program started by helping to remove their teeth!