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Phone airbag promises a soft landing

A phone “airbag” could mean never breaking another mobile, which, for some people, would be a dream come true.   A dropped phone could even change the trajectory of its fall by firing jets of air, says retail and tech giant Amazon, which has patented the system for phones, eReaders, tablets and cameras.   It […]
Michelle Hammond

start-up-idea-parachute-phoneA phone “airbag” could mean never breaking another mobile, which, for some people, would be a dream come true.

 

A dropped phone could even change the trajectory of its fall by firing jets of air, says retail and tech giant Amazon, which has patented the system for phones, eReaders, tablets and cameras.

 

It uses motion sensors already built into most smartphones to detect when it has been dropped, deploying a mini airbag or jet stream.

 

The patent reads: “Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made.”

 

“If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or eliminate damage to the device.”

 

Are there other ways you can help consumers protect their beloved devices?