The upside-down cellphone design

Would'ja believe that you could get used to doing all that thumb-texting if your cellphone's keypad was placed above the main display? We're not sure how a patent could be filed on a handset design that places the keypad at the top and the display at the bottom, but it's been done apparently. Umm, would having part of your palm obscure the display while you would be slamming out those T9 words to your buddies or significant other? We're not sure -- but perhaps we'll see the upside down phone design soon. Or not.

[via Textually.org]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 9th 2007 1:20AM]

YES! YES! YES! Ever since I got my Nokia E50 I have wished that I could operate it upside down (well, technically I can. but in its current state it's a little bit awkward). There is no obscuring the display by your palm. It works perfectly, except that I have to read upside down too...
This is going to be a hit, and if it isn't, it should dammit! I want one!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 4:45PM]

i've been doing this with my samsung slider for a while now. the screen's still upside down, but it makes using the keypad much more comfortable. i'm serious.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 5:18PM]

can you say samsung serene? A little out of the price range for me, but its been out there. Those guys at Samsung are sooo clever. haha.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 5:23PM]

I text A LOT and with the growing screen size the keypad has been getting more scrunched and further down the device. It's getting more and more uncomfortable to text and it's kind of irritating.

I really like the idea here, though honestly it should just be some sort of software hack...

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 6:03PM]

Bang and Olufson already has this upside down design and it prevents the screen from getting smeared with.... well. sweat, grease or makeup.

[rbrome Posted Feb 8th 2007 5:37PM]

I guess no one remembers Wildseed, huh? Their phone had this exact design:

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=513&g=1

It was kind of ugly, but it had a lot of kick-ass innnovations besides the "thumbs up" keypad arrangement. I think they were bought by AOL... wait, isn't that Engadget's parent company?

Anyway, surely this is prior art and this new patent is invalid.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 5:39PM]

I kinda like that. It's a lot better for 1 handed texting with a 'candybar' phone.

[lookitsron Posted Feb 8th 2007 5:42PM]

I forgot what it was but this has been done before - and to rectify the whole obscuring the view of the screen, the phone was curved so that the screen moved away from one's palm if held in the right hand. Brilliant idea, I get crammed thumbs as I text and the idea has crossed my mind several times.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 6:43PM]

I just tried this with my blackberry pearl and it is wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy more comfortable then squishing my hands up to type and the bottom of the screen with nothing to hold onto.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 7:05PM]

Uh wouldn't that having the display at the bottom be more irritable, I mean if you use both hands and fingers to text would your hand be in front of the screeeeeeen......! I think so! Not a good idea I think. I'ts much better the screen at he top. My 2 cents worth!

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 8th 2007 8:31PM]

The Garmin Gecko gps receiver has had this design for some time.

http://www.yorksurvey.co.uk/products/prods2/gps/images/GEK~f10.gif

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 10th 2007 9:25PM]

Damnit. I had this idea a year or two ago, but never thought about patenting it. Damn...