Nokia can not be too funky with their mobile phone design for mass production but you must admit, their concept of design is something that looks, quite literally, out of this world. Morph, a joint Nanotechnology concept, developed by Nokia Research Center (NRC) and the University of Cambridge (UK) - was launched today with the "Design and the Elastic Mind" exhibition, at The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. Morph features in both the exhibition catalog and on MoMA's official website.


Morph is a concept that demonstrates how future mobile devices might be elastic and flexible, allowing users to change their mobile device into radically different shapes. This shows the main functions that nanotechnology might be capable of providing: flexible materials, transparent electronics and self cleaning surfaces. Dr. Bob Iannucci, Chief Technology Officer, Nokia, commented: "Nokia Research Center, looking for ways to reinvent the form and function of mobile devices, the Morph concept shows what might be possible."

 Dr Tapani Ryhanen, Head of the NRC Cambridge UK laboratory, Nokia, commented: "We hope that the combination of art and science will show the potential of nanoscience to a wider audience."

The partnership between Nokia and the University of Cambridge was announced in March, 2007 - an agreement to cooperate in a program broad and long-term joint research projects. NRC together with the University of Cambridge has decided to work on more projects, to begin with, which centered on nanotechnology. 

Elements of Morph might be available to integrate into handheld devices within 7 years, though initially only at the high end. However, nanotechnology may one day lead to low cost manufacturing solutions, and offers the possibility of integrating complex functionality at a low price. Hopefully it will not take long.