By Seb Janacek, 28 October 2008 15:48
Chameleon Mac
Have you ever been put off buying an iPod or Mac because of the limited range of colours on offer? Hasn't everybody?
This patent application for an "Active enclosure for a computing device", published in 2004, will solve this criticism forever. The patent describes a "computing device [which] includes a housing having an illuminable portion. The computing device also includes a light device disposed inside the housing. The light device is configured to illuminate the illuminable portion".
Essentially, this leaves you with a computer with thousands of LEDs under a translucent skin that turns your Mac into a chameleon-like beast that can change colour or pattern according to the user's whim. It's the ultimate technology fashion statement - a computer that can be accessorised with anything.
Verdict: 2/10
We want to believe but it's not likely anytime soon with anodised aluminium enclosures carved out of solid blocks of metal being the order of the day both for Apple's manufacturing and marketing.
Credit: US Patent and Trademark Office
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Comments
There are 2 comments. Join the discussion
1. Mark Walton
Of all the things I thought I'd never see on silicon, a Turducken reference has be up there...nice one :-)
2. Michael Gilligan
The old ACT Apricot Mouse/Trackball [many years ago] used a neat approach ... This had a gentle magnetic detent on the vertical encoder, so the cursor moved "stepwise".
... Might be worth another look.