Nokia, U. Cambridge Launch the Morph Nanotechnology Concept Device
Today in New York Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) unveiled the Morph, a nanotechnology concept that has blossomed from a partnership between the two announced last March. The Morph will be part of the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at New York's Museum of Modern Art.
The Morph demonstrates a union between art and functionality, showing how future mobile devices might be flexible enough for the user to form into a variety of shapes and sizes. Aside from flexible materials, nanotechnology could potentially deliver other advantages:
- Devices become self-cleaning and self-preserving
- Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension
- Built-in solar absorption might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
- Integrated sensors might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices
The head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Dr. Tapani Ryhanen hopes that "this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience."
Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering's Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge partnership believes that "developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided [them] with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for [their] joint nanoscience research that will stimulate [their] future work together."
The collaboration between the two entities came about as an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term program of joint research projects centered on nanotechnology. Nokia has established a research facility on the University's West Cambridge site and works with several different departments, most notably the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department.
Some features of the Morph may be available for integration into handsets within seven years, but they would fall in the high end of the market. Nanotechnology should eventually lead to lower manufacturing costs however.
[via Nokia]
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What'll they think of next!
You can imagine the price of this device cant you.
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