Clumsy fools rejoice. New technology to make your smartphone shatterproof is being developed.
Phones of the future will no longer be fragile and could brush off being dropped, sat on or given to destruction-prone kids thanks to a touchscreen film made from materials that would give it super strength and flexibility.
Researchers at the University of Akron released a scientific paper demonstrating how this transparent polymer surface, which consists of electrodes, withstood repeated bending tests and saw it retain its shape even after 1000 flexes.
Lead scientist Dr. Yu Zhu believes it could revolutionize and replace conventional touchscreens which currently use coatings made of indium tin oxide, known to be more brittle, which is responsible for those shattered mobile moments that leave in you in tears.
“We expect this film to emerge on the market as a true ITO competitor,” Zhu says. “The annoying problem of cracked smartphone screens may be solved once and for all with this flexible touchscreen.
Not only is the new display one tough nut, it’s also much cheaper to produce than ITO screens due to its flexibility meaning it can be fabricated in economical, mass quantity rolls.
As mobiles move into an era where form is beginning to find bendy, flexible shapes a screen technology such as this could be key to bringing those exciting new designs to market sooner, especially with manufacturers seeking that lower cost production options.
Insurance companies will be cursing under their breath, but we’re happy we might no have to handle our mobiles like they’re Faberge eggs.
This article originally appeared on News.com.au.