Toronto: Scientists have developed the world's first foldable smartphone that changes to a tablet and a notebook using a set of screens and hinges. The shape-changing smartphone allows users to fold open up to three flexible electrophoretic displays to provide extra screen real estate, the amount of space available on a display, when needed.

Displays are detachable such that users can fold the device into various shapes that can range from an ultra notebook shape to a foldout map. "In PaperFold, each display tile can act independently or as part of a single system," said Dr Vertegaal, a professor in the School of Computing and Director of the Human Media Lab at Queen's University, Canada. "It allows multiple device form factors, providing support for mobile tasks that require large screen real estate or keyboards on demand, while retaining an ultra-compact, ultra-thin and lightweight form factor," said Vertegaal.

PaperFold automatically recognises its shape and changes its graphics to provide different functionality upon shape changes. For example, folding the device into an ultra notebook form factor opens up a keyboard on the bottom screen. Users could use this form factor to type a search. By flattening PaperFold's three displays, the user changes views to a Google map that spans all screens. Shaping PaperFold into a convex globe shows the map in Google Earth view. Folding PaperFold into the shape of a 3D building on the map will pick up a Google SketchUp model of the building and turn the device into an architectural model that can be 3D printed. Researchers said the inspiration for PaperFold came from its namesake: paper.