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Maybe we're too old, stubborn, or set in our ways, but we don't fancy the idea of our smartphones tattooing text messages on our bodies. Most of you probably don't either, so it's a good thing that's not what Research In Motion (RIM) is working on. Instead, RIM, along with the Royal College of Art's Helen Hamlyn Center, are busy developing a technology called SkinDisplay, Recombu.com reports.
Phones enabled with SkinDisplay would convert missed calls and text messages into raised text on the back of your phone. You could then reach discretely in your pocket, press the text with your finger, and read the subsequent imprint without drawing attention to yourself. To erase the message, just rub your fingers.
SkinDisplay was conceived alongside another concept called SmartCall, and the two could work hand-in-hand. SmartCall is a software solution that would allow you to set the urgency, subject, and deadline for any phone calls you make. The overall idea here is to "make phones less annoying and more human in the way they talk to you."
Comments are closed on this article
MdX MaxX
February 10, 2011 at 7:51pm
This...is...stupid.
Good luck reading anything with more than ten characters...
profdlp
February 10, 2011 at 6:24pm
One more thing for college professors to be worried about:
Print the formula you "memorized" on your finger. Pick your nose, pretend you're examining the booger, then ace the exam.
Where can I get one?
tke671
February 10, 2011 at 10:22am
The way I use phones, these technologies are completely worthless to me. If the skindisplay could be changed to be Braille instead, at least blind phone users could read text messages.
rosant1
February 10, 2011 at 9:32am
I think their timing for April Fools' Day is a bit off. The SmartCall is a good idea but SkinDisplay that’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard of. I can see it now someone has their phone in their back pocket. They get a text, reach for their phone and look as if they are wiping crap off their hands when they are done. Does it have a toilet paper dispenser?
Pball1224
February 10, 2011 at 8:11am
So now I have to update my "status" of how busy I am all the time? No way! If I don't answer, it's clearly not a good time to be calling me, leave a message and I'll try to get back to you at a better time. It's not the caller's responsibility to check my "status" before calling me. This is so dumb.
So is the skin text thing. Checking your finger, or checking your phone is the same level of interuption if you are in the middle of doing something. Checking your finger might even be MORE of a disturbance to whatever it is that you are doing because it takes a couple seconds to press hard enough to make an impression on your finger. Probalby faster just to pull out your phone and glance at it. This is idiotic.
On top of all that, the voice reminds me of the Dyson guy, and I really don't like that pretentious prick.
p47riot
February 10, 2011 at 9:45am
I LOL'd in real life! Oops I mean "di-dah-di-dit, dah-dah-dah, di-dah-di-dit"
