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Imagine this: You’re texting and walking. You miss that one step and an attempt to save yourself, you drop that beloved smartphone. All of a sudden, a series of airbags deploy and your smartphone bounces back up to your hand.
Not possible? Jeff Bezos thinks it is. In February, Amazon filed a patent for a mobile device airbag. Using the accelerometer, the phone will determine if it is falling, then with either an airbag or jets of air, your phone will be able to avoid fatal impact on most surfaces.
Seriously, A Smartphone Airbag?
A smartphone airbag is an interesting concept, but it lacks details to actually be practical. Things like how the air will store in a cell phone for multiple years (let alone leak out). It would all depend on how you drop it, too. The diagram above only shows a bottom drop and flat drop. If your phone falls on the sides or face, the airbags probably won’t be able to help.
Why Amazon?
The other question is “Why Amazon“? They don’t make a smartphone… yet. Well, they do have the Kindle. In the patent filing, Amazon suggests that the airbag technology can work with phones, tablets, cameras, laptops and video game controllers (but we throw those on purpose, right?).
What About A Protective Phone Case?
The implementation looks like the phone will become too bulky. Still, it’s a start. In the meantime, if you do drop your phone constantly, you might want to consider getting a rubber lined case. That way, your iPhone or Android phone will be a little more protected.
Airbag Patent Paperwork
In case you are curious, here’s the full patent paperwork.
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