Remember the days when cell phones were only used for simple voice communication? Yeah, me neither. And cell phone companies still have plenty in store for all of us who lust after new gadgets. In no particular order, here are 5 new innovations to look forward to.
The Portable Eye
A new cell phone application allows the blind to read by snapping pictures, translating the text into speech, and reading it aloud. While the software’s $2,100 price tag is prohibitive, its proponents believe a larger customer base can make it cheaper. And if you all you seeing folk think this isn’t useful to you, think again— a prototype of the software can photograph a document in one of seven different languages and translate it into English.
The 8.1 Megapixel Cell Phone Camera
I take way to many pictures on my 2 megapixel cell phone while ignoring my pricey camera. But the new Casio Exilim cell phone camera is just as good as the real thing, sporting an 8.1-megapixel sensor, image stabilization, 9-point autofocus, a YouTube video mode, a wide-angle lens, and a 3.1 inch 480×800 OLED screen. The phone is being released in Japan next month, but the rest of us might have to wait awhile before getting our hands on the Exilim.
The Biodegradable Phone
Cell phones can be tough to recycle, so in today’s green-conscious environment it makes sense that Sony Ericsson has presented a concept phone that is completely biodegradable. The Greenheart uses bio-plastic, recyclable plastic, HTML documentation (instead of print), and a zero charger with 3.5 mW of standby power. The phone currently doesn’t have a release date.
The Cell Phone Flask
Ok, so this isn’t a real cell phone. But it is an awesomely geeky flask to hide your whiskey in. And I think that’s just as cool as any of the other innovations mentioned here.
Photo Credits: Boston.com, DVICE, Gizmodo, bookofjoe
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