'One-touch Mobile' to be launched soon

Ahmedabad, Aug 28: It is cute and compact without any frills associated with glitzy gizmos.

The prototype of the mobile, now patented, could re-write the concept of communication with its one-touch connectivity. It has attracted the attention of service providers and manufacturers.

The credit for designing the 'socially responsible product' goes to Pradyumna Vyas, principal designer, Faculty of Industrial design, National Institute of Design (NID) here.

The mobile is compact and handy and can easily be carried by a school-going child. It has no screen to see the dialled or incoming number and with only three simple buttons (can go up to 6 if required) it can be easily operated. When the phone rings there would only be a light bell. No music or any music downloads like those ordinary, glitxy mobile phones. When a button is pressed or if there is an incoming call a switch glows.

''The basic purpose of my invention is to make communication simple and easy especially for kids or sick, elderly people. In case of emergency contacting family members or doctors would become very easy, said Mr Vyas. ''I have eliminated the screen, address book, SMS facility and all the frills that go in a normal mobile phone.

Even the basic connectivity is restricted to three numbers that can go up to six if modifications are required, Mr Vyas said.

All the numbers are predetermined. If a kid on his way back home needs parental help and presses one of the three numbers he would be instantly connected to either his father or mother or to his school.

This code is only known to either the service provider or the parent in whose mobile phone the bill would be added, Mr Vyas said.

In effect owning the phone is hassle-free and inexpensive, a filter inside will not allow any other number to be dialled, said Mr Vyas. ''Usually a mobile is not allowed in the school nowadays for its corrupting influence. What I did was to understand the needs of a child purely from the basic requirement of communication,'' he added.

The possibilities seem endless. Even a blind person can use it. A transporter could contact his office simply by pressing a predetermined number to say where he is or if the goods have reached. A maid servant could easily communicate, so too a car driver to his owner, Mr Vyas said. One area where it can be useful is in Defence establishment keeping in mind the security aspect, he added. Also the handy CDMA mobile would have its sim card fixed and therefore would be useless to a thief in case he robs it, he pointed out.

The mobile which has been patented has also caught the imagination of Chinese manufacturers. ''We're into negotiation with them,'' Mr Vyas said.

''As to when the product would hit market it was a bit difficult to say as talks with manufactureres are on, About the cost of the product it could be Rs 500 or still lower. There is nothing in my mobile that could tend push up the cost,'' Mr Vyas added.

Interestingly he has received a mail from a UK based NGO querying about the phone and when it is slated to hit the market.

''Enquiries are now pouring in about the product,'' Mr Vyas added.

It is strictly a socially responsible product without unnecessary features, affirms Mr Vyas. It has been designed keeping in mind a long overdue social responsibility. A study has revealed that 80 per cent of people who have flashy gadgets use only 20 per cent of the features, he said.

UNI