Scientists from the Human Media Lab at Canada's Queens University have developed the world's first foldable Smartphone that can be changed into a laptop and tablet. This new device called PaperFold, has a detachable screens and hinges that allow the user to fold the three electrophoretic displays into different shapes.
"In PaperFold, each display tile can act independently or as part of a single system," said Dr Vertegaal, a professor in the School of Computing and Director of the Human Media Lab at Queen's University, Canada.
"It allows multiple device form factors, providing support for mobile tasks that require large screen real estate or keyboards on demand, while retaining an ultra-compact, ultra-thin and lightweight form factor," added Vertegaal.
PaperFold has a feature that recognizes and changes display according to the shape that the user folds it into. When the device is folded into a notebook, a keyboard appears at the bottom of the screen that allows the user to type in a search. When all three screens are flattened, PaperFold allows the user to view Google Maps on the device. The device allows the user to view maps in the Google Earth view when it is shaped into a convex globe.
As the name suggests, PaperFold got its inspiration from paper as paper can be folded into different shapes. "The PaperFold smartphone adopts folding techniques that makes paper so versatile, and employs them to change views or functionality of a smartphone, as well as alter its screen real estate in a flexible manner. PaperFold demonstrates how form could equal function in malleable mobile devices," Vertegaal said.
The phone was displayed at the ACM CHI 2014 Conference in Toronto but scientists are not sure if PaperFold will enter the markets for sale.
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