Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
h a l f b a k e r y
Tempus fudge-it.

idea: add, search, annotate, link, view, overview, recent, by name, random

meta: news, help, about, links, report a problem

account: browse anonymously, or get an account and write.

user:
pass:
register,


                                       

Please log in.
Before you can vote, you need to register. Please log in or create an account.

Retractable Belt Cell Phone

Wear it as a... well, read and see.
  (+4, -1)
(+4, -1)
  [vote for,
against]

Two parts:

1) A belt, standard sort of belt looking thing that actually houses a cell phone battery inside it. Built in to conform to the shape and flexibility of the belt, it should be minimally noticeable, if at all. The belt-battery would have a charger adapter so you could recharge it.

2) A cell phone attachment that plugs onto the belt and hangs from it. It's much thinner and lightweight (not needing to sport the battery mass and weight) and attaches to the belt using a retractable power cable that winds up. When you get a call, you pull the phone up from your belt and talk. It could be set to auto-answer when being pulled out, or only on a key press. When the call is over, {end} and then drop the phone, which retracts back into its normal hanging position on the belt.

waugsqueke, Sep 11 2002

http://www.krebber....0913196299.html#top [hippo, Sep 12 2002]

Retro Cell Phone http://www.halfbake...etro_20Cell_20Phone
[hippo, Sep 12 2002]

http://ws19.dse.nl/nokia.html [hippo, Sep 12 2002]

[link]






       why not just plug an earpiece/mike combo into the belt? Use speech recognition for dialling, combined with a little button on the mic, like they do with some current ones (nokia, I think). Perhaps add a little text display for sms, similar to the controller sticks sony uses with their products.
yamahito, Sep 11 2002
  

       That's more or less baked, yama. Personally I don't like the headset deals. I prefer holding the phone to my ear. I'm guessing but I think most people would probably agree, based on the number of people I see using the headsets.
waugsqueke, Sep 11 2002
  

       Well, it's technically very practicable; a tiny, lightweight handset - incorporating the keypad - connected to a belt containing a flexible lithium-polymer battery and the RF unit.   

       Keeps the RF PA and antenna away from the head - good. Places it closer to the gonads - not so good ?   

       You don't actually need the retractable cable - you could just link the handset to the main unit with BluetooAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaahhhh ...... Thud.   

       <Trapdoor quietly closes>
8th of 7, Sep 12 2002
  

       Does the handset really need to be that lightweight? I don't particularly mind lifting 80g to my ear. And wearing your phone on your belt is a bit geeky, no?
sild, Sep 12 2002
  

       sild: And just exactly what is wrong with being a geek, then ?
8th of 7, Sep 12 2002
  

       Oh dear. I've entered the minefield of nerd terms. I realise that geek is not necessarily a derogatory term, and that it can mean knowledgeable and free thinking person, unconcerned with some of the more shallow pretences of society or something. Whatever...   

       Perhaps I should've used the word dweeby. This suggests less intellectual kudos and more pure dorkiness (there I go again). Perhaps I should look these words up before using them.   

       "Sad" - that's it. It looks sad to wear your phone on your belt, unless you're a builder or something.
sild, Sep 12 2002
  

       <aside>I read a fascinating article yesterday (in the Economist) on the evolution of the Lithium-Ion battery. The reduction by 99% of the weight of cellphones (the first commercially available cellphone weighed 9.8kg) is largely thanks to clever battery technology.</aside>
hippo, Sep 12 2002
  

       9.8kg. Sheeeit! I assume that was one of the ones where you had to wear a backpack containing the batteries. I would like to get one for use as a retro fashion accessory. I wonder if they come with built-in satellite dishes.   

       hippo - do you know of a picture?
sild, Sep 12 2002
  

       It was called the Mobira Senator, but I can't find a picture. To give you a general idea I've linked a picture of it's replacement, the Nokia Talkman (relatively light and compact, at only 4.7kg). See also "Retro Cell Phone".
hippo, Sep 12 2002
  

       That's not the whole story; a lot of weight saving has been achieved by the development of VLSI ASICs for the RF PA and the HMI - slashed the package count - and improvements in the power consumption allowing smaller batteries. But the higher power density of the LiON systems has helped a lot; the original Motorola ETACS handportables used Cyclon Lead-Acid cells.   

       sild: May I respectfully suggest that you withdraw your "sad" appelation, lest thy next idea receive a tosating of flame such has never been seen before in the HB ? Even now, I can here the sinister click-click of 0.5mm propelling pencils being loaded ....
8th of 7, Sep 12 2002
  

       Oh, wait - I might have found a picture. See latest link.
hippo, Sep 12 2002
  

       hippo - those links are the funniest thing I've ever seen on here. I'm in the office and I'm having difficulty controlling myself. Thank you.
sild, Sep 12 2002
  

       <low level grumbling> Kids today, don't know they're born, never had to lug a bl00dy Clansman set and spare sodding batteries halfway across bl00dy Wales in a stinking downpour, matchbox-sized comms you can stick in a pocket, runs all week from one charge, ungrateful snivelling little swines, b0110cks, would have given our back teeth for something like that, we had it hard you know, ramble ramble ramble ....... </llg>   

       "Eighth of Seven, whisky-bottle-in-paper-bag, standing-on-a-street-corner-near-you, shouting-at-lamp-posts."
8th of 7, Sep 12 2002
  

       ignore him, poor sap.
po, Sep 12 2002
  

       Sounds like the communicator used in Forbidden Planet.
DrBob, Sep 12 2002
  

       UB: By the way, only about a watt of that power went up the twig ..... the rest just got added to Global Warming. There was a good deal of bipolar componentry (logic and analog) in those things and that was where the juice went.
8th of 7, Sep 12 2002
  
      
[annotate]
  


 

back: main index

business  computer  culture  fashion  food  halfbakery  home  other  product  public  science  sport  vehicle