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The evening current events show As it Happens on CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) reports that American engineer Justine Haupt is the creator of a rotary-dial mobile phone.
Listen to the full 5m39s radio interview or read a shortened transcript on-line.
Justine Haupt, who created her own cellphone with a rotary dial, said she did so because she doesn't like how hyper-connected people have become in the world of smartphones.
"You can't browse the internet, it can't text, and all of that is intentional because I have a problem with how hyper-connected everyone is nowadays.
[...]Haupt, a 34-year-old space engineer, explains that although the phone operates on a 3G cellular network, it is not a smartphone.
"It's as un-smart as it can be, intentionally."
Haupt aims to use the phone on a daily basis and tried to make it as compact as possible, so it could fit in a pocket.
The phone does integrate some modern features, such as programmable shortcut buttons for calling specific numbers, a power switch, and a curved e-paper screen that displays basic information such as missed calls.
Though only briefly mentioned in the interview, the phone incorporates open source hardware from Adafruit Industries.
Full project description and documentation can be found on Haupt's webpage: http://justine-haupt.com/rotarycellphone/index.html
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Arik on Monday February 17 2020, @05:32AM (1 child)
Though the rotary dial is a bit much for me, personally. I would prefer buttons. Nice raised buttons in a thoughtful layout so they can be worked by feel.
Touch screens are abominations.
If laughter is the best medicine, who are the best doctors?
(Score: 2) by DeVilla on Wednesday February 19 2020, @04:59AM
I kinda wonder what happens the first time she tries to take this thing on a flight, even in checked baggage. Or if she tries to take it through any kind of security check. (Court house, amusement park, etc).