Scientists at the University of Washington in Seattle have developed what they think can be the future of operating a mobile phone — by giving it a squeeze. According to weekly technology magazine New Scientist, they have built a prototype of a squeezable cellphone called SqueezeBlock, which uses tiny motors built into the casing to mimic the behaviour of a spring.
The phone reacts to pressure from the user's hand and can be squeezed like a plastic modelling mass. Shwetak Patel, computer science researcher and engineer, told the magazine that the effect can be used to retrieve various information on the mobile phone. "Imagine that you just squeeze your mobile to get certain status information without having to look at it," he said. Depending on the firmness of the pressure, users could be informed about the charging status of the phone, modify the ringtone volume or download text messages.
Interaction problem
Patel said that "the recurring need for visual interaction [with a mobile phone] can be frustrating and even dangerous in visually demanding situations like driving a car." His research group believes that this interaction problem can be alleviated by designing interactions that take advantage of other human sensory channels such as haptic feedback.
And there is one other clear advantage for a squeezable mobile phone: Owners can also use it as a squeeze ball to relieve stress.
http://gulfnews.com/business/technology/squeeze-your-mobile-phone-1.697474
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