The Future of Cell Phones We have seen the cell phone evolve from a large, bulky piece of equipment to a small, compact and stylish device. Now you can choose different ringtones for your phone and change its appearance. Nowadays, you can even access the Internet. Even though it seems like we've seen it all, cell phones continue to improve. New phones capable of taking photos have recently been launched. Not only can you take photos but you can also send them. However, these phones have only just been released and are going to cost a lot of money. Technology is constantly improving and it seems that no matter what type of phone you buy, a newer model will be obsolete. A London company, Eleksen, has created something it calls "smart fabrics" that can electronically detect a finger touch and recognize the amount of pressure applied to it (16). You may be wondering, “What will this do for cell phones?” » Well, Erik Fok, who works for Eleksen, says he hopes the fabric will herald a new generation of lightweight cell phones that can be controlled with the touch of a hand or swipe of a finger (16). Can you imagine this? A cell phone that can be creased, bent, or slipped into your pocket. It may seem distant but believe me, it will be commercialized in a few years. Have you ever purchased a phone card? Well, in the future you may be able to buy disposable cell phones. That's right, disposable. These phones, invented by Randi Altschul, will be made of paper and will of course be recyclable (17). The phone should be available soon and can be purchased for twenty dollars for sixty minutes of talk time (17). There is another inventor who went further. Victor Chu, a fashion technologist in New York, wants to develop a biodegradable case for prepaid phones that contains flower seeds and can be planted once the phone runs out of credit (16). I'll have to see this to believe it! Many people predict that cell phones will do much more than voice communication in the future. They will hold the keys to bank accounts and serve as remote controls to unlock the doors of our house or car..