A new mobile phone layout

Feb 5, 2007 13:41 GMT  ·  By

Most people out there will associate the phones of the future with a big bright touchscreen and a lot of advanced features included.

Some don't share this perspective on things and would rather change something that has been the same since the first mobile phone out there.

According to Anthony Harrison, who has filed a patent for a phone with a screen that is positioned below the keypad (basically an upside-down mobile phone), conventional mobile phones are not very easy to use.

Apparently, because of the fact that the screen is positioned above the keypad, users will have a clear view of the screen but texting is awkward and more inconvenient than it should be because of the fact that the phone is held with the help of the user's fingertips instead of being held in the palm.

Thus, the thumb's movement will be restricted and texting will be considerably slowed down. While repositioning the keypad above the screen and turning everything people are used to upside down may not necessarily bring a better texting experience, it is still something to consider.

Aside from improved grip, this layout will also ensure that the thumb rests in a comfortable position directly above the keypad. Because of the improved angle for the thumb, shifting the phone around while typing will become unnecessary.

It is also true that not many people have been heard complaining about how slow typing is because of the inconvenience of having the screen above the keypad. But innovation is always appreciated and maybe this will actually lead to an improved design of many mobile phones.