Curved phone screens have already appeared on models such as the Samsung Galaxy Round and the LG G Flex (shown above), and you can expect to see a whole bunch of new and innovative designs over the course of 2014. To help gadget makers out, Corning has announced that it has perfected a 3D manufacturing technique for its popular Gorilla Glass, opening up new possibilities for device designs.
“We can now take Gorilla Glass all the way from flat sheet to a finished 3D-shaped product in Asia, expediting turnaround times and minimizing logistical complexity,” said Corning’s James R. Steiner in a press release. “That’s a win for Corning and our customers.”
The company statement makes mention of “mobile and wearable applications”, so it’s likely that the new three-dimensional screens will make their way to smartwatches as well as phones and tablets. Apple already uses Gorilla Glass for its iPhone line up, so if the long-rumored iWatch ever makes an appearance then you can expect it to be wearing the new 3D variant. Corning’s Gorilla Glass now protects over a billion devices across the world, and the company’s products are also used in televisions and computer monitors.
“Product design continues to drive the consumer electronics industry,” reads the announcement from Corning. “More than half of the top 10 smartphone manufacturers already market devices that incorporate cover glass with subtle curves, and the demand for even more-dramatic form factors is increasing. Corning’s 3D-forming technology meets this demand and expands the design possibilities for industrial designers.”
Are you looking forward to a curved smartphone future? Or are you happy with the good, old-fashioned flat slab?
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