The closest Samsung has come to releasing a flexible device so far is the Galaxy Round smartphone, but behind the scenes the company is working on a number of flexible and bendable OLED products. A new patent filing from the South Korean tech titan reveals a number of gestures we may one day use to control our squishy and stretchy devices.
First spotted by Patent Bolt, Samsung’s patents are meant to address the growing needs of smartphone users while also taking advantage of the company’s plans for future flexible smartphones. For example, by squeezing a device you could control the volume on a connected TV or automatically scroll on computer display.
In another example, Samsung describes a futuristic wristband display that could be controlled by “pushing, squashing or petting” manipulations. There’s also one sketch showing some sort of stretchable video game controller which looks like too much of a gimmick to actually be any fun. Stretching the device to maneuver a character onscreen might be interesting at first, but we can’t imagine this technology replacing a standard gaming controller any time soon.
Samsung first submitted these patents back in 2012, but there’s no word on when any of the devices described here will ever hit the market, if ever. Of course we don’t expect to be squeezing our stretching our smartphones anytime soon, but it’s always fun to see the whackier side of what’s going on inside a tech giant’s research and development offices.
Disguise your little one with the help of a themed costume
From avocado halves to hoppy bunnies, costumes speak to every child's unique spirit. And we've collected our favorite options.
Add magic to your living space with these string lights
String lights add personality and soft light to your living space. Here are some of the best.
The Galaxy S20 Ultra's Space Zoom camera is amazing and a bit creepy
The Galaxy S20 Ultra supports up to 100X zoom, which Samsung calls Space Zoom, but is it any good? Can a phone really product usable photos at 100x zoom? We've got our Galaxy S20 Ultra already so join us to find out!
Wrap your living room in comfy seating with the right sectional
Your sofa is a comfortable place to host your family and friends. A sectional sofa, with its generous angled design, offers ample seating to your living area. With many style options, a sectional can be the perfect addition to your furnishings.