BlackBerry goes futuristic with Empathy03 December 2010
Concept smartphone shares your emotions 24
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Ok, don't get too excited, the BlackBerry Empathy isn't going to be heading to the shelves anytime soon. But as a glimpse of a possible BlackBerry future, we're very impressed.
According to Yanko Design, the handset was created as part of a RIM
Blackberry-sponsored project at the Art Center College of Design, with designers Kiki and Daniel, behind this angular space age slab.
Apparently, the brief demanded they incorporate an interface that integrates human emotions with the concept of social networking. The phone is therefore used in conjunction with a biometrics ring that is worn by the user to collect 'emotional data'. So your status update really is how you are feeling. Not sure we're comfortable with that idea, but we're sure there will be privacy settings somewhere to protect the world from your extreme anger or more 'delicate' moments.
There's also a transparent OLED screen that becomes transparent when not in use and opaque during interaction. The front is all touch surface, while on the back there is a physical keyboard.
We suspect the theory is still well ahead of the technology. We're also not convinced that the majority of BlackBerry users would bare their soul 24 hours a day either. But it's interesting and just might be a window to the future, when we really are genuinely networked to our friends and family via the power of mobile technology.
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