It sounds like convergence gone mad: a mobile device that doubles as a shape-changing chord, a dynamic body constraint, a smart ruler and an object for vector data manipulation.
In fact, it sounds impossible. But those clever people at MIT Media Lab have gone and done exactly that with LineFORM “a novel Shape Changing Interface which has the form of a ‘Line’”. The device consists of a linear series of motors, which can twist, turn and transform itself into various shapes.
“By utilising such aspects of lines, together with the added capability of shape-shifting, we present various applications in different scenarios such as shape-changing cords, mobiles, body constraint, and data manipulation,” MIT reports.
The video of LineFORM in action is especially impressive, with the device wrapping itself around the user’s wrist to function as a smart wristband, then mutating into a recognisable phone shape to receive a call.
Have a look. But ophidiophobes beware: things get distinctly snake-like at times.