Video - Nokia Morph Cell Phone Concept Sports Extreme Flexibility Courtesy of Nanotechnology

Featuring in The Museum of Modern Art’s “Design and The Elastic Mind” exhibition in New York, Nokia’s Morph Cell Phone Concept is billed as being a device that serves as ‘a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users’ and utilises nanotechnology to allow for a device that can be morphed into a wide variety of shapes according to user requirements.

According to Nokia, the Morph is ‘a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces.’

Aimed specifically at future cell phone concepts, Nokia’s Morph concept, which is a joint research venture between the Nokia Research Centre and the UK’s University of Cambridge, serves to investigate the following future technologies:

• How newly-enabled flexible and transparent materials can blend more seamlessly with the way we live
• Devices that are self-cleaning and self-preserving
• Transparent electronics which offer an entirely new aesthetic dimension
• Built-in solar absorption capable of charging a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge
• Integrated sensors that could allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices

Nokia’s Official Press Release:

Morph, a joint nanotechnology concept, developed by Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) - was launched today alongside the “Design and the Elastic Mind” exhibition, on view from February 24 to May 12, 2008, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Morph features in both the exhibition catalog and on MoMA’s official website.

Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be stretchable and flexible, allowing the user to transform their mobile device into radically different shapes. It demonstrates the ultimate functionality that nanotechnology might be capable of delivering: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self-cleaning surfaces. Dr. Bob Iannucci, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia, commented: “Nokia Research Center is looking at ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices; the Morph concept shows what might be possible”.

Dr. Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Nokia, commented: “We hope that this combination of art and science will showcase the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience. The research we are carrying out is fundamental to this as we seek a safe and controlled way to develop and use new materials.”

Professor Mark Welland, Head of the Department of Engineering’s Nanoscience Group at the University of Cambridge and University Director of Nokia-Cambridge collaboration added: “Developing the Morph concept with Nokia has provided us with a focus that is both artistically inspirational but, more importantly, sets the technology agenda for our joint nanoscience research that will stimulate our future work together.”

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to work together on an extensive and long term programme of joint research projects. NRC has established a research facility at the University’s West Cambridge site and collaborates with several departments - initially the Nanoscience Center and Electrical Division of the Engineering Department - on projects that, to begin with, are centered on nanotechnology.
Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high-end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price.

Nokia [via Gizmodo UK]