New revolutionary technologies always meet with skepticism in their beginnings. And flexible OLED technology is no exception.
From its birth in the laboratory to its debut, the invention of flexible OLED technology seemed to promise a science fiction-like future for everyone. With the increasing introduction of flexible OLED technology, however, it is also met with increasing skepticism. Critics say it is expensive, its surface is fragile, and warn that it will form an obvious crease. The truth is that flexible OLED technology has always sounded more like an expensive toy than a practical personal device.
See also: How OPPO makes your information more secure with ColorOS
Also, given the weight and size of most popular flexible screen solutions, they should be classified as tablets. Do we really need to use a device that is 1-1.5 times as heavy as a regular phone, just for a few more use cases? All these discussions have led many to the question: do we really need a changeable screen? Is the flexible screen the answer to a false need from phone manufacturers?
OPPO INNO DAY 2020 may have ended this debate. Mobile phone brand OPPO gave a different answer to all of these questions when they unveiled a brand new rollable concept handset.
It’s more than a screen
Do you remember the time it took to get from the computer to the laptop? And then from cell phones to smartphones? Now get ready for the next change.
This rollable concept handset can be difficult to describe, but it’s magical to see it in action. The retractable display seems to be telling people that this is exactly what the future personal device should look like that we expected. It is portable in size and efficient in function. It can change its shape as needed and meet most of the needs of our daily work and life.
As can be seen in the demo video, the app interface – including browser, video and album apps – automatically adjusts as the screen unfolds. It fits the screen, which is 6.7 inches to 7.4 inches. If we assume seven inches as the size that separates a tablet from a mobile phone, this rollable device is a perfect crossover that seamlessly combines the two form factors.
When it bends, the phone has a rare kink feeling thanks to the constant force created by OPPO’s RollMotor drivetrain, 2-in-1 plate carrier substrates, and OPPO’s proprietary high-strength Warp Track laminate. Together with the linear patterns etched on the surface, the Warp Track laminate significantly increases the elasticity of the display when it is bent and at the same time provides sufficient support. However, it is still unclear whether the solution achieves a high level of reliability as OPPO has not disclosed many details.
According to OPPO, this unique form factor also leads to more variability in the design of antennas and batteries. With a rollable screen and powertrain structure, it’s not hard to imagine that this device would need a large battery. Although OPPO has not elaborated on this aspect in view of OPPO’s previous capabilities in charging technology, we believe that a satisfactory solution can be expected.
While the sleek industrial design catches the eye, it is the rollable concept that stimulates the imagination. This rollable personal device literally “unfolds” a new era of human-machine interaction with its variable screen.
We are entering a new phase of the human-machine interface
Let’s give a brief overview of the historical context of HMI phases.
In the first phase – Simple – HMI focused on the personal device itself. A phone was just a phone. You pressed keys to dial a number and make a call. Computers belonged to laboratories and were used by many people. We mostly “communicated” with them through the command line, and the learning curve has been pretty steep.
Then came the phase of the natural human-machine interface. Since Xerox invented the first graphical user interface in the 1970s, the design of computer interfaces has gradually become more people-centric, moving to a more natural and intuitive approach. This development saved people the cost of learning to use the machine and contributed to the mass adoption of computers and other digital devices.
This phase has continued to this day, where we can unlock our devices with a fingerprint. We can interact with the screen by touching it or navigate the user interface using voice commands. We can also talk on the phone with just a gesture or a few spoken words. The machine or device begins to know who the user is and uses this information to improve the user experience and provide us with a more complete and safer experience.
The third stage is the era of the integrated human-machine interface. At this point we are already seeing the first innovations. Take the rollable concept handset we just talked about and the CybeReal AR application that OPPO just unveiled at OPPO INNO DAY 2020. The app uses all kinds of data, including IMU, GPS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth, to better understand a user’s location and their surroundings. This enables high-precision real-time localization and scenario recognition.
Imagine a day in the future when a computer or personal device could use cues from around you, your own status, and even your mood to anticipate your needs and actions. When you need to work, your device expands so you can work efficiently on a bigger screen. When you go on a journey, it can retract and become a bracelet that tells you how to get to the destination via bone conduction. When you are at home, most of the time you can scroll through the contents of the device with your eyes without using your hands.
Ultimately, at this stage, we must address how billions of screens and smart devices – as well as endless amounts of environmental information – can better work with people to make people “people” again, not just “users”. objectified and deprived of attention by computers. That’s why a smartphone maker like OPPO is gradually turning into a technology company.
A brand new future for us and technology
In 1993, in an article entitled The world is not a desktop, Mark Weiser questioned interactive forms such as voice assistants, VR, 3D interfaces, graphical interfaces and multimedia. He made a very important point:
The computer as a tool shouldn’t invade your consciousness, it should blend in seamlessly with the environment and allow people to focus on their tasks, not the tool.
This is very similar to the view OPPO took on OPPO INNO DAY 2020. Tony Chen, Founder and CEO of OPPO, said technology is the means while people are the ends.
Although these two ideas are nearly 30 years apart, the one thing that remains unchanged is that we need to examine our relationship with computers and even technology. With a view to the present, Weiser’s fears become reality. While the world has not been turned into one gigantic computer, we are surrounded by a multitude of devices and screens. Have they really made our lives easier? Our attention, a precious resource, is consumed by endless information. Is this really the technology-driven future we want?
Of course, that doesn’t mean we have to give up technology. It’s only a temporary problem in its rapid development. Companies like OPPO are starting to think about the current situation by thinking about technology in new ways and offering an alternative lifestyle that still embraces technology through their innovative line of concept products.
We sincerely hope whether it is Mark Weiser’s assertion that “the most profound technologies are those that disappear” or OPPO’s vision of technology to “enable people to capture the beauty of their surroundings and unleash their imaginations of the future” is the future happen sooner rather than later.
Back to the question we asked at the beginning, what’s next for smartphone screens? OPPO is gearing up for a revolution where screens revolve around our lives, not the other way around, and that seems like a solid place to start.