"Scroll" concept device packs everything but a sense of reality

Sure, there's plenty of far fetched concept devices from big players like Nokia, but it's nice to see that folks without millions of dollars in research funding can also come up with equally unrealistic devices, as evidenced by this so-called "Scroll" contraption created by 13 Tech Design. What's more, this one doesn't get by on looks alone, with it packing a touchscreen-based cellphone, a 10 megapixel camera and 1080p camcorder, various media-playing features, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, and a full-fledged computer that runs on Vista or XP. That's right, it seems that even fantasyland gadgets need to fall back on XP.

[Stone825 @ Apr 16th 2008 8:11PM]

That looks like Vista on the screen there.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:20PM]

Check out their website. It is Vista.

Have you read the article?

[Stone825 @ Apr 16th 2008 8:24PM]

Ahh I see now. I didn't read the or part. My bad.

[Flashpoint @ Apr 16th 2008 8:51PM]

GREAT !

Now I just need another set of arms and hands so I can touch the buttons in the center while I'm holding it up.

[Dante @ Apr 16th 2008 9:57PM]

Vaporware much? kthxbai.

[Nick M. @ Apr 16th 2008 10:07PM]

what the hell is on the bottom right, a toilette paper dispenser?

who ever came up with this mock-up design needs to look into a new career path. The thing with concept devices is that they should still be feasible...

[Frankenstein Black @ Apr 17th 2008 10:44AM]

Exactly Flashpoint. Thats why this design is much better.
http://www.eternal-champions.com/images/efc_device.jpg

[Ty @ Apr 17th 2008 12:14PM]

"That's right, it seems that even fantasyland gadgets need to fall back on XP."

I see what you did there!

[acquadiparma @ Apr 16th 2008 8:11PM]

its gonna cost an arm and a leg? or do i gotta give one of my kidneys too?

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:20PM]

And your left lung plus half your brain and one eye.

[Seth @ Apr 16th 2008 8:43PM]

None of the above matter to me...
I'll take two please. :-)

[john @ Apr 16th 2008 8:14PM]

jeez, it even has a toilet roll dispenser on the right.

what more could a man want?

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:15PM]

And a camera to take pictures too!

[Kunal @ Apr 16th 2008 8:53PM]

It looks more like a lint brush than a toilet dispenser haha.

[ED @ Apr 16th 2008 9:54PM]

Now that you mention it, there is a vague similarity. Major props for mentioning one of the best episodes :D Gate Golf FTW

[Celanor @ Apr 17th 2008 3:26PM]

Never in need in the wilderness again

[Lamplight @ Apr 16th 2008 8:15PM]

Me thinks some Nokia engineer is a huge Stargate fan. That looks just like the device the evil archaeologist uses in "Window of Opportunity".

http://www.scifithemes.com/sg1screencaps/sg1windowcap34.jpg

[TheCanadianGeek @ Apr 16th 2008 9:03PM]

It also reminds me of the handhelds they had in Earth Final Conflict

[austin @ Apr 16th 2008 9:08PM]

I'm sure a nokia engineer is. What does that have to do with this concept from 13 Tech Design?

[DarCowAlways @ Apr 16th 2008 11:18PM]

And it also looks like an iPhone ripoff.

;)

[vannyx @ Apr 17th 2008 12:11AM]

Yeah it was called the global communicator. ( cant find a picture)

But here is a rendering. ( the one on the show was much smaller).

http://www.ohgizmo.com/images/DreamphoneCalledit12988_01.jpg

[Greenteacookiedough @ Apr 16th 2008 8:19PM]

Doubles as personal defense weapon - knock out a couple of teeth from that guy...

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:23PM]

And... With a screen that thin, it can double as a katana!

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:19PM]

With the screen that thin, I don't want to break it.

So brittle...

[Ignatius @ Apr 16th 2008 8:23PM]

I don't think the title could be put any better.

Reality is something the designers merely see as a fleeting thought.

[Aguiluz @ Apr 16th 2008 8:24PM]

Devs: This pushes the limits of reality and physics!

Consumers: VAAAPPORRWWAAARREEE!!!

[Benson @ Apr 16th 2008 8:53PM]

Indeed. But what do you expect? They're _designers_...

[meatypie @ Apr 16th 2008 8:24PM]

enough with you blatant fanboyism engadget, you no longer need to profess your undying goal in life to swallow jobsies' load, okay?

[Derek @ Apr 16th 2008 8:28PM]

Way to bring Apple into the discuss when they made no mention of it whatsoever, and with a perverted comment too! Way to add to the discussion, meatypie.

[Seth @ Apr 16th 2008 8:45PM]

Seriously dude, why bring Apple into this? And the whole Steve Jobs thing, that's just plain 'ol immature. Come on, how old are you? -3?

[austin @ Apr 16th 2008 9:11PM]

http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=2sa1nyv&s=3

not spam i promise. completely relevant to comment.

[ryan @ Apr 16th 2008 9:58PM]

the only thing apple related in this entire article is that the device has a iPhone dialer in black & white

[Boynamedsue @ Apr 16th 2008 8:24PM]

XP, Vista, who needs legitimate reporting when you've got snark?

[A.C.E.R. @ Apr 17th 2008 12:39AM]

Who needs legitimate comments when you've got snark?

[mabhatter @ Apr 16th 2008 8:35PM]

the idea looks cool, but it's obvious they are using a rigid panel, not flexible and packing in too many features.

I've had a similar idea for very large format (C size) "scrolls" for engineering work. But it would require real digital paper. The idea being add some touch capability then engineers or designers could wrap C-size drawings up and store how many thousands on a SD card instead of carting around paper tubes. A smaller B-size version might be to replace libraries of books. Roll into a small tube for storage and protection, touch the edges to scroll the pages.... after all people have been reading scrolls a good deal longer than stacked paper books. Some languages don't "read" right in book form.

[mushrooshi @ Apr 16th 2008 8:42PM]

While that design certainly wouldn't be practical, a scroll is actually a neat concept.

[vdogg89 @ Apr 16th 2008 8:47PM]

so what I see here, is a thin screen no bigger than any umpc, yet the device is so large, it defeats the whole purpose.

[Johan S @ Apr 16th 2008 8:48PM]

That's nothing, you should see my concept design. It's basically a nanobio cellphone. You swallow it as a pill, then it dissolves in your stomach and gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Then it makes it's way across the blood-brain barrier into the brain, there it self assembles itself into a nanobot that interfaces with your neurons where you can control it, and in turn, it can project visual and audio information or images directly into your brain (takes a while to get used to I admit). It is also a high energy efficient immersive/imaginative VR gaming, video/mp3 player, PDA, and cell phone "always on the net", and gets its energy to transmit GSM or Wifi from nutrient supply (glucose?) in the body fluid environment (just like any cells or organs in your body do).

In addition to being able to provide instant answers to advanced math problems and make it easier to recollect events, it can also boost analytical abilities using a proprietary "common sense assist" algorithm.

[Chicksta @ Apr 16th 2008 10:09PM]

I already had one of those.


...or at least, I think that's where the voices come from...

[David @ Apr 17th 2008 8:41AM]

But what happens if you take two of them?

[BigD145 @ Apr 16th 2008 8:48PM]

A cellphone and Vista or XP? I'd love to be able to call 911 after a 2 minute boot, thanks. ... Oh wait... hold on a minute. BSOD. Let me unplug the battery and reboot.

[Ethan @ Apr 16th 2008 8:50PM]

13 tech=it was designed by 13 year olds.

[kingkael @ Apr 16th 2008 9:06PM]

My 13 yr old brother could design something better than this.

[MANGOPTIMUS @ Apr 16th 2008 8:52PM]

hey let's cram every device known to man and make it into something AWESOME.

and it would be, except for the fact that it's huge and ugly.

[ByronGman @ Apr 16th 2008 9:04PM]

Is it just me or are those Steve Job's turtle necked hands?

[Sam Zebian @ Apr 16th 2008 9:05PM]

Looks pretty cool, if it was real and not a concept I would consider it.

[dajimmers @ Apr 16th 2008 9:23PM]

Wow that keyboard is TINY. Look at the finger size vs. the keyboard, or really anything on the screen. Hope you have a microscope.

Here's how I would fix this: Chop off the right side. The flexible back screen rolls into the phone/camera/keyboard on the left, but pulls out rigid (think 80's snap bracelets). You turn it on its side and can type, like a UMPC. You scroll it in and have a smartphone. Still unrealistic (today), but more awesome.

[whowhatme @ Apr 17th 2008 7:28AM]

well, you can just specify 'extra small' for those two extra hands you're going to need to implant to even use it

[madcrabs @ Apr 16th 2008 9:55PM]

The background in that picture looks like the real-life version of your balcony in Playstation Home.

[Labrador @ Apr 16th 2008 10:04PM]

Anyone who wants a phone with XP or Vista should have his head checked. A desktop UI is much too fussy for use in a phone.