Photos: Roll up this laptop

1 of 5
  • Roll-up laptop

    Roll-up laptop

    A team of engineers at the U.K.'s University of Cambridge have developed "morphing materials" that have the ability to retain up to three structures--meaning that within five years it could be possible to roll up your laptop screen as easily as a newspaper.

    This prototype, made by Keith Seffen, a lecturer in structural engineering at the University of Cambridge, holds the main electronic components by wooden strips on the vertical sides of the screen.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Rolled-up screen

    Rolled-up screen

    The screen rolls into an easy-to-carry size, and there's no need to panic if it's dropped on the floor, Seffen said.

    The material shown here is a copper alloy, with its structure distorted to produce either two shapes: a flat screen or tube structure. Seffen has developed materials that will hold three shapes and said "we think four shapes are a possibility."

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Less than 1mm thick

    Less than 1mm thick

    The metal itself is less than a millimeter thick.

    The Cambridge team is currently developing mathematical models to predict how reliably the material will keep its shape and discover more about the material's limitations.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • End view

    End view

    This end view shows the thinness and compactness of the roll-up laptop.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

  • Dr. Seffen

    Dr. Seffen

    Seffen demonstrates the roll-up screen. "It will complement the arrival of flexible displays in the future," he said.

    Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 5

Researchers at the University of Cambridge have developed a laptop that you can roll up as easily as a paper.

Read More Read Less

Roll-up laptop

A team of engineers at the U.K.'s University of Cambridge have developed "morphing materials" that have the ability to retain up to three structures--meaning that within five years it could be possible to roll up your laptop screen as easily as a newspaper.

This prototype, made by Keith Seffen, a lecturer in structural engineering at the University of Cambridge, holds the main electronic components by wooden strips on the vertical sides of the screen.

Caption by: Andy Smith

1 of 5

Related Topics:

Laptops Hardware Reviews Security Mobility PCs
Add Your Comment
Add Your Comment

Related Galleries

    • 1 of 3

  • 9 devices with e-ink displays

    The monochrome, sunlight-readable displays remain largely synonymous with e-readers, but they're moving into other devices large and small.

  • Apple products you shouldn't buy (November 2018 edition)

    While Apple carried out a big refresh of its hardware lineup in September and October, refreshing the iPhones, iPad Pro, and some of the Macs, there are plenty of other Apple products ...

  • Make your old Mac faster

    Is your old Mac feeling its age? Have boot times spiraled from seconds to minutes? Are you starting to think that it might be time to buy a new Mac? Not so fast! Here's how you can give your ...