We have multi filament wires, which bend pretty easily, but we don't have bendable electronics. we should. i should not have to worry about my dongle breaking off if i set my computer on something that bends it. circuit boards should be made of something that bends too, as should connectors. instead of snapping together, things will just kind of smoodge together, and then unsmoodge when you want to release them. gear won't break if you drop it. surface mount stuff could be rolled up into tubes to save space, etc etc.
-- Skullhead, Jan 29 2003

We should, and we do http://www.yamaichi.us/yflex.html
well, it's "bendable"; I'm not sure if that equates to "smoodge" [lurch, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

One example of a flexible, rollable electronic http://www.2opinion...ssories/flexkey.htm
[jurist, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Coming Soon! http://www.cbsnews....ws/main529111.shtml
Soon "Flexible TV" will not just be describing the programming schedule. [jurist, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

Baked, if not yet to the desired extent. Neither WIBNI nor magic, good [BC]
-- lurch, Jan 29 2003


Flexible keyboards have been around for a while, as just one example of the flexible electronic genre. They don't break when you drop them, surface mount, and can be rolled into a tube. They're waterproof and easily disinfected to boot. But I agree with you in principle: It would be nice if more high quality electronic products were available with these advantages.
-- jurist, Jan 29 2003


Vey baked. I was designing 8 layer flexible pcb's that were to be wrapped around a coffee mug to display messages just 3 months ago. The only major drawback at the moment of this waterproof, bendable, stable surface mount placed, multi-layer material is that it is currently a tad expensive. The dongle on your laptop breaks because 20c worth of plastic over some cable is cheaper than a $20 pcb.
-- reap, Jan 29 2003


bah. i am no good at this game.
-- Skullhead, Jan 30 2003


Buck up, [skullhead]. You are new here, and by my just now and probably soon obsolete count, you have a total of seven more buns than bones on your ideas. Many around you didn't start so well.
-- lurch, Jan 30 2003


[Rods], by an eerie coincidence, I was discussing exactly that issue with a colleague yesterday afternoon.
-- 8th of 7, Jan 30 2003



random, halfbakery