The phone of the future could be nearer than you think, with details of a Nokia patent emerging that could see wearable phones a reality. The patent is for a flexible screen, which could see phones in the form of a bracelet. To find out more about Nokia’s future technology, read on after the jump…

Flexible screens for mobile phones could be with us in just a couple of years, with Nokia filing a patent titled ‘USER INTERFACE, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR A PHYSICALLY FLEXIBLE DEVICE’.

Among other things, the patent notes that future devices could have a “flexible screen capable of being small and mobile while still allowing several user actions to be taken”.
It’s not just the flexibility of the screen that’s innovative either, with Nokia looking at the ability to carry out different functions depending how the screen bends. How useful this proves to be depends, but the examples in the patent are pretty unusual.

Diagrams show the bendy screen being curled into a cylinder, with the patent noting that the device, having been bent to resemble a can, could recognise that you’re looking for a bar or pub, thereby carrying out an online search of the area. It also shows the screen being bent with the edges curved upwards, somewhat in the shape of a bowl. The device would then search for local restaurants. Quite what other gestures you could carry out by bending the screen we’re not sure, however…

According to Go Rumors, the technology could be widespread by 2015, which would be an amazing achievement considering mobile phones have featured a broadly similar form factor for the past ten years.

Do you think Nokia’s patent will find its way into everyday products, or is this just another concept? Let us know what you think.