DRAS Foldable Smartphone Concept

You can't buy a DRAS foldable smartphone yet, but the flexible touchscreen technology it uses is at least a little more than just a pipe dream. DRAS stands for Digital Resistive Area Sensing, and it's a real system in development by tech startup R&D CORE to 1) reduce the amount of space phones and tablets consume without reducing their size while in use; 2) provide built-in screen protection from scratches and cracking; 3) enable use while wearing gloves (no special finger pads needed); and 4) prevent butt dials.

R&D Core also says its DRAS system sensors have no size limits; they can even build into XL TVs and wall-size displays to make flexible or folding big screens without performance or quality reduction.

Additional DRAS sensor features:

• Installs behind the flexible display so it won't impact optical performance.
• Not affected by humidity or temperature swings.
• Senses finger force.
• No calibration required.
• Extremely thin.
• Low power consumption.