Looking for the LEGOS version of Digital Devices
by JuliaWhile participating in Kate Rutter’s famous Wand in the World open design session, it occurred to me how great it would be to have a device where some of the hardware (with some of the software) was removable. In short, I wanted to just use the part of the device that I really needed at a given time and nothing more.
I was recently reminded of this when I went to buy an iPod Nano. I already had a MacBook, and I already had an iPhone, and they can both do everything this new device I was standing in line to buy could do. The only difference was that the shape and the size of the new device was more conducive to running. Likewise, I find I usually leave my iPhone at home when going out for a night on the town for fear of the breaking pretty glass that allows me to see all the applications I need during the day. In those instances, it would be nice to just be able to take just the phone part of my iPhone with me.
While I realize there are some serious hardware challenges to something like this, a girl could hope that when trying to consume less stuff, that I wouldn’t have to buy something that I already have, just to be able to have it in a different shape or in a form that’s more durable.
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September 24th, 2008 at 7:25 am
This is great concept but I don’t think it will ever happen. I too don’t want to carry a $400 iPhone (regardless of what you actually pay the phone company) with me everywhere because I could loose it, have it stolen or drop it (crack!). If anybody could do it though, Apple could.
September 24th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
There was a concept phone demoed earlier this year, I cannot remember the name of it to search for it, that was just this concept. There was a module, and then there were jackets/sleves/docks that would be able to add functionality on top of it. Pretty neat concept and something that’s supposed to be coming to market pretty soon at last recollection.
September 25th, 2008 at 6:23 am
It is called modu.
September 25th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I’ve noticed during my research in Asia and Europe that many people have several phones and they simply move their sim card from phone to phone. This research was done before the iphone, but usually encompassed a smartphone by day and fashion phone by night. I haven’t tried it, but I imagine you can switch your sim card from phone to phone with AT&T’s iPhone. Give it a try & let us know!