Smartphone Made from Bamboo Crafted by Middlesex University Student

Originally intended for the Chinese market, the Bamboo Smartphone from Adzero is expected to make an UK and Europe release later this year owing to the overwhelming response it received on the Internet.

A British student from Middlesex University (MU) is reportedly the chief architect behind the innovation - a smartphone encased in bamboo. The phone's body is made of four-year old, organically grown and sustainable bamboo.

Kieron Scott-Woodhouse, a student designer, said the increasing instances of too many identical smartphones inspired his creation of ADzero.

The bamboo used is reportedly very durable and lightweight (it weighs, apparently, only half the weight of the iPhone - two qualities expected to help the phone sell well.

Incidentally, while the bamboo case itself may not be absolutely unbreakable, the outer shell is made from a block of bamboo that can withstand some harsh treatment. The casing is not just a veneer which makes a strong point for rugged use, according to Scott-Woodhouse.

Kieron, 23, is a full-time product design student at MU and was reportedly called by a technology entrepreneur for a design advertisement post on the Internet.

There is no other information about the phone's specifications, at this point in time. However, it is expected to run on the famous Android mobile operating system, while also including a "ring flash" around the camera. The special flash feature is expected to complement picture illumination levels and thereby eliminate the "red-eye" effect.

The existing prototype is already being substituted by an updated design running the ADAOS (AD Android operating system) - a customized version of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich, which promotes button-less casings as part of the latest designs.

The manufacturer's pricing strategies are still unknown. However, they have confirmed the device is meant for the "boutique market", which means it is aimed at the high-end segment.

There have been quite a number of smartphone strutting unusual constituent pieces recently; these include the Motorola limited edition version of the Defy+ handset, which sported a visco-elastic protection sleeve from JCB. Besides, ASUS launched the U33/U53 bamboo notebook series only a couple of years back. Dell too has tried something similar in the past.

The point must be that bamboo seems to be the new trend for green gadgets. However, the main problems, in this case, with the bamboo designs are that the skin tends to peel off after prolonged use, particularly along the edges. Also, bamboo attracts more smudges over time and gradually loses its luster.

On the positive side, bamboo promotes flexibility and enhances the durability of the device. Its lightweight attribute is a big plus point, as is its eco-friendly properties.

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