Author: Julie Campbell

Scientists have come up with a new technology that may make dropping your smartphone far less upsetting.

Scientists in the United Kingdom have announced that they have come up with a technology for an unbreakable phone screen. The tech involves the use of a special form of electrode. It would be possible to use it in mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets, or even in larger electronics such as TVs.

The team of scientists has predicted that the unbreakable screens could be available as soon as 2018.

The electrode for the unbreakable phone screen technology conducts electricity throughout the glass. A traditional form of electrode is made of indium tin oxide (ITO), which is an expensive type of metal. In fact, it is prohibitively expensive and has stopped that method from being used for more durable mobile phone screens until now. However, the UK scientist have made a new type of electrode by mixing graphene and silver nanowires.

These two materials were the key to being able to create the unbreakable phone screen display.

The silver nanowires are exceptionally tiny, at 1/10,000 the width of a human hair. And yet, they’re still much larger than graphene. The thinness of these materials has made it possible for an exceptionally flexible conductor which is far more resistant to breaking and cracking than the current standard glass screens.

When taking into consideration the number of people who break their smartphone screens, this is very good news. After all, a cracked screen isn’t just an inconvenience. In fact, inconvenience is only the beginning. Touchscreens as a standard on nearly all smartphones have meant that cracked screens can limit the use of the device or can render it unusable.

The unbreakable phone screen technology was created by a team of University of Sussex physicists who were working with an Oxford microelectrics firm. They developed these unique hybrid electrodes and published their findings in the Nanoscale journal. According to that publication, this is also an important discovery because the graphene and silver nanowire combination is actually better at conducting electricity than the older electrodes made out of the expensive ITO metal.

The popular mobile app is reportedly working on its first ever hardware product which will provide AR.

Snapchat is reportedly in the midst of developing its first hardware offering in the form of an augmented reality headset. Reports have stated that it will arrive in the form of AR glasses that will be comparable to the HoloLens from Microsoft or even Google Glass.

As of yet, Snapchat has yet to officially confirm that it is indeed pursuing this type of device.

At the same time, more fuel was added to the fire behind the claim that Snapchat was coming up with an augmented reality headset following a recent move. The disappearing photo app joined the Bluetooth Special Interest Group. That is a wireless technology industry body. It suggests that, at the very least, Snapchat is working on a device of some kind.

Moreover, this would not be Snapchat’s first foray into the world of augmented reality technology. It has already added a spectrum of new filters – called Lenses – within its mobile app.

The augmented reality headset would take the experience beyond accessorizing selfies.

While the Lenses make it possible to add drawings, masks and other kinds of alterations and accessories to photos, the device would take digital enhancements beyond pictures. The company would be able to take a similar concept to Lenses and apply it to wearable technology. It would be possible without needing to look at a smartphone screen.

The company has also reportedly been hiring from augmented reality departments of large tech firms. These include Google, Logitech and even Nokia. While there has been some interest in AR expressed by Apple, Google, Facebook and Microsoft, none of these giants have yet to launch a successful product based on that tech.

Google had a limited launch of its Google Glass wearable technology, having unveiled it in 2012. However, it halted its sales only three years later in part because of the criticism it drew regarding its hefty price and certain usage habits. For instance, drivers were being pulled over for being behind the wheel while wearing it. People were being questioned by police when wearing them into movie theatres. Moreover, the general public disliked the fact that they could be filmed by a wearer without knowing it.

In 2014, Snapchat acquired an augmented reality headset product making company called Vergence Labs. Ahead of the acquisition, the company launched a fashionable glasses range called Epiphany Eyewear which can record up to 32GB of footage and store it.