July 18, 2011
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In the series “A Modest Proposal,” my colleagues and I will propose inventions and projects that I think are eminently doable and would love made real.
Imagine an iPhone that is watertight — one with no power or audio sockets. A future iPhone 5 could be one you can play while showering or in the swimming pool, and you wouldn’t have to worry about it dying if you drop it by accident in the sink or toilet.
Might future iPhones be waterproof? Credit: Apple.
This idea, from my colleague Davide Castelvecchi, may easily be possible now. The widespread use of wireless Bluetooth earsets could mean that audio sockets on phones are things of the past, and waterproof microphones could be used instead for those who do not want to use such headsets. Wirelessly syncing music, photos and other files between your iPhone and your computer is also possible via WiFi. In addition, one can now charge electronics wirelessly, either by placing them on inductive charger pads or even without pads from a distance. (Indeed, Apple may be experimenting with a new way of charging the 2012 iPhone.)
The iPhone comes to mind because Apple already seals them so that customers cannot readily open them. Still, there is no reason one can’t imagine a waterproof Android phone or a tablet such as the iPad.
You can email me regarding A Modest Proposal at toohardforscience@gmail.com and follow the series on Twitter at #modestproposal.
About the Author: Charles Q. Choi is a frequent contributor to Scientific American. His work has also appeared in The New York Times, Science, Nature, Wired, and LiveScience, among others. In his spare time, he has traveled to all seven continents. Follow on Twitter @cqchoi.
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How do you get the SIM Card in and out?
Link to thisThere are dive watches that can go underwater and similar devices — you can open them up to replace batteries and the like and close them again in a water-tight way. I’d imagine a water-resistant iPhone could be opened up at an Apple/AT&T/Verizon/etc. store to get its battery or SIM card swapped, just as is the case with iPhones now, as mentioned in the last paragraph. The point of this piece is that sockets are weak points for water to get in.
Link to thisWow, it’s a pain to login to these “network” blogs. The main site sees me, but not here unless I log out and back.
Apple doesn’t do special use. You’re much more likely to see a sealed smartphone for another platform. I have “waterproof” digital cameras and compartment doors really are the weak link. I guess if you did wifi phone and app updating with induction charging, you wouldn’t need to open a door frequently and risk flooding the device with a bit of grit in the seal. I’m not sure about sound fidelity with a sealed speaker and mic. I very much doubt anyone would build a device that would go to more than a meter or two depth.
Link to thisnot waterproof, how about 3 feet of water for 30 minutes- there’s an Android for that: Verizon Wireless Casio G’zOne Commander Goes Underwater http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjwKoPNaODw
Link to this