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The PantechA1407PT cell phone has a unique ability to let you listen. It allows you to listen to your calls with your bones.
The Pantech phone uses bone conduction; when the phone is placed against your jaw, the mechanical vibration from the phone is conducted to your inner ear, which responds normally. The result: you hear the other person on the phone perfectly.
A bone conduction cell phone has an additional advantage; it makes it easier to hear phone conversations in a noisy room. The sound is conducted directly to the inner ear (see model showing phone position).
For a truly futuristic phone, just one more step is needed: attach the cell phone directly to the skull behind the ear, under the skin. This is what science fiction writer Robert Heinlein suggested in his 1951 novel The Puppet Masters:
The sort of phone my Section uses is not standard; the audio relay is buried surgically under the skin back of my left ear - bone conduction. (Read more about Heinlein's audio relay)
Here's a peek at some more futuristic cell phone technology:
The Future Of Cell Phones Designers around the world are busy designing the next generation of cell phones that will probably still drop calls - but look exceptionally cool doing it.
Cellular Phone Robot You've never seen a cellphone like this one. It actually has little wheels on it; it can find its way to a recharger (on a table top) and can find the owner of the phone to take a call.
Saudi Arabian Mobile Phones It has a number of unusual, built-in features to serve the religious needs of its intended audience - faithful Muslims.
Bill Christensen catalogues the inventions, technology and ideas of science fiction writers at his website, Technovelgy. He is a contributor to Live Science.
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