ReFlex, The first of the world’s flexible electronics is here
Following a lot of talk and speculation about the advent of flexible electronics, researchers at Queen’s University’s Human Media Lab have developed the world’s first full-colour, high-resolution and wireless flexible smartphone. The phone, which has been named ReFlex, combines multi-touch and bend input allowing you to experience physical tactile feedback when interacting with their apps through bend gestures.
The reflex ReFlex prototype is based on a high definition 720p LG Display Flexible OLED touch screen powered by an Android 4.4 “KitKat” board mounted to the side of the display. ReFlex features a voice coil that allows the phone to simulate forces and friction through highly detailed vibrations of the display and has bend sensors behind the display sense the force with which a user bends the screen, which is made available to apps for use as input.
When this smartphone is bent down on the right, pages flip through the fingers from right to left, just like they would in a book. Bend it some more speed up the page flips. You can feel the sensation of the page moving through their fingertips via a detailed vibration of the phone. It also allows eyes-free navigation, making it easier for users to keep track of where they are in a document.
Queen’s researchers will today, unveil the ReFlex prototype at the tenth anniversary Conference on Tangible Embedded and Embodied Interaction (TEI) in Eindhoven, The Netherlands. The annual forum is the world’s premier conference on tangible human-computer interaction.
[PhysOrg]
