Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 460,592 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,086 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,240 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 321,086 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,210 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 460,592 cutting edge ideas.

Practical E-Ink Smartphones

FormNation's E-Ink Phone Goes Back to Black and White and Basics

— July 12, 2014 — Tech
This E-Ink phone by the New York-based design consultancy FormNation is a practical and more functional alternative to the many flashy smartphones out there. Today, the modern mobile telephone is rarely without other capabilities, but instead of trying to do it all, this E-Ink mobile focuses on doing less, but better. Even so, the phone is capable of sending out calls, texts, email, browsing the Internet and provides access to music and maps.

Although smartphones like the Apple iPhone are wildly popular, it does have some major drawbacks like the price and its extremely short battery life. The E-Ink counters this with a black and white design and a screen similar to a Kindle. On the design, FormNation remarks that "While to some E-Ink might seem like reverting from HDTV to black and white, we see this as the difference in beauty between full color and black and white photography.
Trend Themes
1. Practical E-ink Devices - As consumers begin to prioritize practicality over flashiness, there is an opportunity for companies to develop more functional E-Ink devices with longer battery lives.
2. Simplification of Multifunctional Devices - As the market is dominated by multifunctional devices, there is an opportunity for companies to differentiate themselves by focusing on simplifying their product offerings.
3. Nostalgia-inspired Design - There is a growing trend towards nostalgia-inspired design in technology, which provides an opportunity for companies to cater to customers looking for simpler and more familiar designs.
Industry Implications
1. Smartphone Manufacturing - Smartphone manufacturers can differentiate themselves from competitors by prioritizing practicality and simplicity and developing devices with E-Ink technology and longer battery lives.
2. Consumer Electronics - As consumers continue to prioritize practicality, there is an opportunity for consumer electronics companies to develop more functional and efficient devices, including those with E-ink displays.
3. Design Consultancy - Design consultancies can capitalize on the growing trend towards nostalgia-inspired design and work with clients to develop simpler and more familiar designs for their products.
4.6
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness