Intel, in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University, is looking to develop shape-shifting smartphones. You thought the iPod Touch was cool, this device is capable of automatically changing shape and resizing itself to turn from phone, to laptop, to earphones depending on your needs. It packs itself into a small device (smaller than your fingernail) when you put it into your pocket, then unpacks itself once you’ve taken it out of your pocket.

So how do you use it? When you press on the touch screen to select an application to run, software in the background detects which software you’re running (phone, web, etc) and sends a signal to the hardware to cause it to change shape and size.

The technology is based on this material called silicon dioxide spheres… don’t ask me. Anyways, the technology and eventual prototype is only 3-5 years away. As for market availability, who knows.

See and watch http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2009/03/intel_envisions.html.