Runcible: A Circular Smartphone

B2 – Upper Intermediate

We live in a world of quadrilateral architecture and design. Gadgets may have developed curve corners, but they are still predominantly four-sided.

Has living in a world of four-cornered tangibles affected the human thought process? Would developing a circular smartphone be the first step toward rethinking?

Read the article below and express your thoughts.

https://edition.cnn.com/2015/03/12/tech/mci-runcible-smartphone/index.html

Discussion Questions:

  1. What are your thoughts on circular smartphones?
  2. What could be Monohm’s motivation in working on the circular “anti-smartphone” called Runcible?
  3. The article suggests that the shape of an object’s frame impacts its use. Can you think of an everyday object that people would approach differently if it were round instead of rectangular?
  4. The author notes the rise of circular avatars in apps and various interfaces. Does this design choice make any difference at all to gadget users? Why or why not?
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8 replies on “Runcible: A Circular Smartphone”

1. What are your thoughts on circular smartphones?

They are an interesting idea for designers and geeks like me, however, in my opinion, it wouldn’t fit for most people. As an engineer, my work is to solve people’s problems, and a circular smartphone would create more problems than it would solve.

2. What could be Monohm’s motivation in working on the circular “anti-smartphone” called Runcible?

Monohm wants to be an antidote against current digital life, obsessed with feeds and notifications, and in their opinion, a circular smartphone would help in that mission.

3. The article suggests that the shape of an object’s frame impacts its use. Can you think of an everyday object that people would approach differently if it were round instead of rectangular?

Hmm, I think that the way we use our houses would be quite different if there were no corners. It would be quite difficult to put things on the walls, and we would need new types of furniture adapted to a rounded house, as well as other electrodomestics and decorations.

4. The author notes the rise of circular avatars in apps and various interfaces. Does this design choice make any difference at all to gadget users? Why or why not?

Yes, it does. Straight angles can transmit a sense of danger, whereas rounded shapes can transmit safety and kindness.

Well done writing your responses to your lesson’s discussions questions!

Take a look at how to express this sentence a bit better:

They are an interesting idea for designers and geeks like me, however, in my opinion, it wouldn’t fit for most people.

They are an interesting idea for designers and tech geeks like me. However, in my opinion, it wouldn’t be suitable for most people.

Until your next posts then!

1. What are your thoughts on circular smartphones?
The idea may lead to a reduction in screen space. Devices such as TVs, tablets, and phones are typically rectangular in shape, so I prefer to keep it like that.

2. What could be Monohm’s motivation in working on the circular “anti-smartphone” called Runcible?
The unique design could potentially change how people interact with their gadgets, making the Runcible stand out in the market. The apps appearance should be similar to a smartwatch.

3. The article suggests that the shape of an object’s frame impacts its use. Can you think of an everyday object that people would approach differently if it were round instead of rectangular?
I believe changing any object to a rounded frame would alter its functionality. However, I cannot think of any rectangular object (such as windows, doors, paper, televisions, or smartphones) that would improve its efficiency by being converted to a circular shape.

4. The author notes the rise of circular avatars in apps and various interfaces. Does this design choice make any difference at all to gadget users? Why or why not?
I doubt it could significantly impact people’s behaviour, since avatars don’t have a major impact on the overall app usage.

You did a very good job expressing your thoughts on this topic.

Here are some minor changes you can make in these sentences:

The apps appearance should be similar to a smartwatch.

The apps’ appearance should be similar to a smartwatch.

However, I cannot think of any rectangular object (such as windows, doors, paper, televisions, or smartphones) that would improve its efficiency by being converted to a circular shape.

However, I cannot think of any rectangular object (such as windows, doors, paper, televisions, or smartphones) that would improve its efficiency by being converted to a circular shape.

Until your next entries!

What could be Monohm’s motivation for working on the circular “anti-smartphone” called Runcible?
To generate awareness and help people to disengage from technology.
2. The article suggests that the shape of an object’s frame influences its use. Can you think of any everyday objects that people would approach differently if they were round instead of rectangular?
I imagine that if doors were round people would find it odd but at the same time reminiscent of the doors in The Hobbit.
3. The author points out the rise of circular avatars in apps and various interfaces. Does this design choice make any difference to gadget users? Why or why not?
I don’t think so. I don’t think it could ever affect people’s behavior that much.

Well done answering all the questions. You wrote good sentences.

Remember to write this one in complete sentence:

To generate awareness and help people to disengage from technology.

Monohm’s motivation for the circular smartphones must be to generate awareness and help people to disengage from technology.

Keep going with this exercise to see your skills improve further.

1. What could be Monohm’s motivation in working on the circular “anti-smartphone” called Runcible?

Being disruptive, trying to do something historical, or just getting media attention.

2. The article suggests that the shape of an object’s frame impacts its use. Can you think of an everyday object that people would approach differently if it were round instead of rectangular?

Computers? Cars?

3. The author notes the rise of circular avatars in apps and various interfaces. Does this design choice make any difference at all to gadget users? Why or why not?

If avatars are squared or circled? It´s not even relevant for me.

Many thanks for always answer your lessons’ discussion questions. You’re doing a good job so far.

See how this sentence can be improved:

Being disruptive, trying to do something historical, or just getting media attention.

I think Monohm’s motivation is to be innovative, trying to try to do something historical, or just get media attention.

Keep at it!

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