Mobile phone operators are becoming more environment conscious these days, we have seen Sprint launch eco-friendly handsets and accessories. Now the trend is continued with NTT DoCoMo initiative to introduce Touch Wood mobile phone prototype.
The mobile operator recently revealed that they have designed the mobile phone prototype with the surplus wood of trees culled while thinning operations are performed, in order to preserve forests. The prototype was developed in association with Sharp Corporation, Olympus Corporation and ‘more trees’, a reforestation project established by musician Ryuichi Sakamoto and others.
The Touch Wood features genuine cypress wood body. It is durable and resistant to water, insects and mildew, owing to the three-dimensional compression molding designed by Olympus Corporation. The conventional natural wood is not preferred since it is highly prone to wear and tear.
The handset offers unique grain patterns and natural coloring. Further, cypress maintains its natural appearance and aroma, as no artificial color is used. The wood used for designing these handsets serve dual purpose, it presents innovative handsets and simultaneously builds up the health of overgrown forests.
The wood that is being used comes from Shimanto forest in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture that is managed by the more trees project. The GUI of the handset is based on the photographic art of Mikiya Takimoto, a ‘more trees’ follower.
The dummy of the Touch Wood handset will be displayed at ITU Telecom World 2009 in Geneva, Switzerland from October 5 to 9 and CEATEC Japan 2009 at Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture, Japan from October 6 to 10.