The Nothing 3a Thermal Topography is a sleek and timeless blend of new design features, and some Deja Vu from the 2a. This idea focuses on not only making the phone more functional and practical but also adds some more personality and flavor to Nothings already fantastic designs.
A new hot, or cold, design feature that is present on the Thermal Topography is its new thermal reactive pads that change colors based on the phones temperature.
*Blue and Red areas on the phone*
The thermal reactive pads will not only serve a practical function as an indicator to overheating from heavy work loads like gaming, or fast charging, but will also be a neat aesthetic addition. For example, the phone will always be changing colors depending on the different weather, like cold winter days where it will be blue, and hot summer days where it will be red. Not only does the phone change with the weather, but different areas of the phone will change colors depending on the work loads. For example the area near the CPU would turn red, while other areas would not, giving it a neat presentation of where the work load is targeted / where thermal energy is released.
Manufacturing Process?
The Thermal Reactive Pads can be manufactured by adding a base non-thermochromic color in this case red, and then a thermochromic color, in this case blue, that has a tolerance of up to 35°C (as most heavy work loads go above this) and then turns invisible revealing the red color below. Here the blue layered on top is visible until around 30°C, then gradients become to form as the thermochromic pigment turn translucent, and at 35°C and above the red base color is revealed.
Another Height-light of this design is its new Topographic Pattern that would be applied to the phone.
*Grey and Black pattern found on the phones body*
These Topographic Patterns would display a popular British mountain because of Nothing origin, like Ben Nevis, or any other location that can have a topographic map made of it. I think that the new topographic pattern would be a massive hit on the new 3a as I have seen an increasing popularity of this design being used on tech gadgets.
Manufacturing Process?
My first idea is to etch out the pattern onto a thin metal sheet, as not only would it give the phone some added rigidity in case of flexing, or a drop. But also to give it a nice natural metallic finish on the surface. The etching part is fundamental as it will make the addition of something I will cover later easier.
My second idea is to use the default material and to print out the design onto it with either printing, or laser etching. This option may make it harder to implement another feature though.
Deja Vu! Fluorescent Lighting returns with again! This time with a twist, and some turns.
*White lines are the fluorescent lighting*
The returning aspect of fluorescent lighting to the phones would be a good idea as it would bridge the 3a, to its 2a ancestor keeping some of the community edition spirit alive. For the same reasons like before it would be practical as it would be easier to find in the dark if misplaced, and would also serve as a cool way to show off that topographic map even in the dark. You may be asking, “Doesn’t this harm battery life”?. The answers no it doesn’t! It recharges by itself if it is exposed to some form of light, and in the dark it gives of a faint white glow so it doesn’t interfere with the other colors.
Manufacturing Process?
As written previously, if the topographic pattern was to be etched into a metal sheet. The fluorescent material could just be added into the grooves to make the application process easier. If it wasn’t engraved into the metal, then there would have to be some way to print the fluorescent material into the topographic pattern.
Side Buttons:
*Blue panels will also be Thermal Pads*
Here on the sides the same topographic pattern will be added but without the fluorescent lighting, which will be moved to the icons to see what you’re pressing at night. To mark the arrival of the new Essential Space I added a new button to inform users of its function through a logo. On the sides a print of the phones production number out of 1000 is included to make the phone more feel more personal, this too will have a fluorescent glow.
**
Quality of Life Features:**
- The center of the screws will be coated in fluorescent material to make it easier to find if lost during service
- Glow in the dark buttons that correspond to the action of the button
Thermal Topography in different states:
Cold Hot
Cold (Fluorescent) Hot (Fluorescent)
Thank you for taking the time to read through my idea. Unfortunately I was unable to submit my design to the competition as I am un-eligible for the competition because I am still in high school. When I do become eligible I would be eager to participate again.
