Windows Phone Thoughts: Origami Folding Technology Patented by Sony

"No, not that Origami. Sony is taking the term a bit more literally, and working on a technology to allow a device to be folded up to fit in your pocket, but which when unfolded becomes rigid for use. The whole unit, body and screen, would be made from a flexible material and contain conductive rubber bracing struts with some gel of aluminosilicate particles suspended in silicone oil mixed in for good measure. When zapped with a little bit of electricity, the struts harden almost instantly, allowing you to use the gadget in its proper state."



Well, this is certainly an interesting concept that reminds me of the Smart Armor used in the Turin Winter Olympics. Even taking a small piece of that technology for mobile devices could make the HTC Universal look like a bulky laptop. Imagine having your PDA wrapped around your arm like a sweatband, then unravel flat for use. 8) Though the patent is fairly recent, I hope Sony can publicly show something more than a diagram soon.