This idea is actually something I wish were true. The main challenge would be preventing accidental touches while still registering intentional touches. However, if that issue gets (mostly) solved, this idea could be very cool.
Imagine having contextual buttons for everything instead of the usual static volume/power buttons. e. g. You open your Lemmy client of choice, and there are side buttons for making posts, making comments, etc. We can take this even further: imagine you used the button to compose a comment, and now the contextual buttons change again to allow you to format your comment (like a WYSIWYG editor).
Also, realistically, if this were to be built, the edges would be curved, instead of the blocky slab shown.
I’m gonna be honest the design looks cool. forget the anti-consumer stuff about apple for a sec, like. it LOOKS cool. impractical? sure. but like, you’d definitely get the attention of everyone on the playground with that thing.
There actually are a couple phones out with this already, though they’re mostly Chinese builds. E.g., this one has a screen that wraps around the back: https://youtu.be/PTpoj4f25dk?t=119
All I can see in my mind is dropping that thing, over and over again.
Reverse the numbers and you get 1220. Feel old yet?
Look again. Reverse the numbers and you get 2102. Feel old yet? Look again.
That’s such a bad interface on the side. Nothing is tactile. Touch something on the left side without looking, by feel alone, and you might get loudness, might get lights.
they could add haptic feedback, like they did on the samsung s8, where the home button felt more physical, because u hav to press with pressure and it vibrate when u do. it feels surprisingly comfy and reasonably real. but yes, normal buttons WAY better. <3
