3D-glass keypad for future mobile phones of Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB

Abstract: Abstract The competition regarding market shares in the mobile handset industry is tough. Today the mobile phone is more and more becoming a personal accessory and trends in shape, color and material are changing rapidly. The keypad is one of a phone’s many components which the end user gets in touch with first. It is used to activate the phone, and it is what the user feels and looks at initially. SEMC believes that offering a product made with new, exciting materials and unique shapes would give the company an added value on the mobile phone market. Therefore, the objective of this Master Thesis has been to perform a study on how 3D-glass can be used to develop an attractive and distinctive keypad, and thereby create a more uniform glass impression for the entire front on future mobile phones of SEMC. Limitations, challenges, possibilities and advantages regarding keypad design and production have been examined. The result from the study is meant to increase the knowledge of this area to the level where a decision can be made whether a 3D-glass keypad is a realistic feature or not for future mobile phone concepts. The project consists of three main phases - a theoretical study phase followed by an empirical study phase and a test phase. During the theoretical study phase two pre-studies were carried out; one within glass materials and one within keypad design. The empirical study phase included close contact with suppliers in the glass forming industry and keypad suppliers. Different production methods and combination of suppliers were considered, the keypad design chosen as a base was alternated, the artwork was revised and several possible aesthetic applications and after treatments of the glass keys were evaluated. After this realization phase, the physical 3D-glass keypad samples were then evaluated through a number of tests performed in the test lab at SEMC in Lund. The outcome of the tests was analyzed and a final evaluation of all the different concepts was performed. Ultimately, the project resulted in a design guideline, where recommendations for 3D-glass as a design material for keypads were made, as well as suggestions on areas for further studies.