Posted on 06/23/2006 11:30:33 PM PDT by Dallas59
Designers around the world are busy designing the next generation of cell phones that will still drop calls—but look exceptionally cool doing it.
Cell phone giant Nokia recently collaborated industrial design students from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London to come up with the cell phone of the future. The winner, Daniel Meyer, created a phone that would double as a stand-up picture frame; the screen would show pictures of family members and friends, creating a comforting familiar focal point at home, at work or when away.
However, I'm fascinated by the multi-sensory design submitted by Kimberly Hu. Her design engages sight, sound, smell and touch. The intent is that it can both detect and emit odors, as well as radiate colors, light and temperature from the caller's environment—helping you (literally) stay in touch.
The idea that you could identify a caller by some combination of touch and smell reminds me of the amazing capabilities of science fiction writer Frederik Pohl's Joymaker, a combination phone and PDA from his prescient 1966 novel The Age of the Pussyfoot.
In the novel, Forrester is brought back to life from cryonic storage; he is not quite prepared for the capabilities of his Joymaker phone, which politely asks if he is ready to pick up his message from a Miss Bensen. Forrester did not know what to expect but was pleasantly ready for anything. What he got was indeed a kiss.
It was disconcerting. No kissing lips were visible. There was a hint of perfumed breath, then a pressure on the lips - warm and soft, moist and sweet. Startled, he touched his mouth. "How the devil did you do that?" he shouted.
(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...
Sounds cool overall, but I don't know about smelling people's breath over the phone. LOL.
Mobile phone users warned of lightning strike risk
Fri Jun 23, 7:42 AM ET
LONDON (Reuters) - People should not use mobile phones outdoors during thunderstorms because of the risk of being struck by lightning, doctors said Friday.
They reported the case of a 15-year-old girl who was using her phone in a park when she was hit during a storm. Although she was revived, she suffered persistent health problems and was using a wheelchair a year after the accident.
"This rare phenomenon is a public health issue, and education is necessary to highlight the risk of using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather to prevent future fatal consequences from lighting strike injuries," said Swinda Esprit, a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital in England.
Esprit and other doctors at the hospital added in a letter to the British Medical Journal that usually when someone is struck by lightning, the high resistance of the skin conducts the flash over the body in what is known as a flashover.
But if a metal object, such as a phone, is in contact with the skin it disrupts the flashover and increases the odds of internal injuries and death.
The doctors added that three fatal cases of lightning striking people while using mobile phones have been reported in newspapers in China, South Korea and Malaysia.
"The Australian Lightning Protection Standard recommends that metallic objects, including cordless or mobile phones, should not be used (or carried) outdoors during a thunderstorm," Esprit added.
If only they would master the PHONE part first.
They started with a diminished phone which we thought was a result of their portability.
Over the years bells and whistles have been packed on but the phone itself is neglected.
Many of us lead active, physical lives, we need durability, (much durability) and would like better battery life, and better volume options for when we are in a loud environment.
"I am fully functional"
- Data, Star Trek The Next Generation
Instead of just listening to some teen yammer about nothing while standing in line, we can also smell her boyfriend's cheap cologne.
Yeah, but it still can't make the morning coffee
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And we thought that iPods sold well.
Imagine the crank calls one could make!
You know, things are bad enough with people just talking while they drive.
Right you are. I'd prefer more reliable connections, better sound quality, and longer battery life to all the "cutesy BS" that is currently being foisted off as "the latest and greatest".
Why would I want to smell somebody's armpit?
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