TED talk - The shape-shifting future of the mobile phone

I watched Fabian Hemmert, a Phd student from Berlin discuss how to make something like digital technology, something that is intangible, a tangible product. We have things like touch screens and motion sensing technology like Wii and Xbox Kinect but what is the next step to making things feel more human?

Fabian talks about 3 ways of potentially doing such a thing. There are 3 main ways he proposes this should be done.

Through weight shifting the centre of gravity of the mobile phone. This is particularly good for navigation purposes and allows the user to feel the directions and not have to see of hear them.

Through shape changing so the phone expands when larger data is being looked at and shrinks when in sleep mode in your pocket or transforms to become a beside stand for watching movies or being a displayed alarm clock device.

Lastly, the phone becomes a living organism through it's movements and actions for example having a heart beat and getting excited and being able to be calmed down through human affection.

It shows a different perspective to digital technology and teaches you to 'think outside the box' with respect to design. Human beings can become emotionally attached to products like they do living things and are more inclined to do so when the object is responsive and appears to have a soul.

Watch the TED talk here...