Folding Mobile Devices

Influenced by software design traits and mobile computing trends of the early 21st century, technology manufacturers conducted research and development of foldable journal-like computing devices. Through the 2010s, much of the attention in the technology industry was focused on smartphones and tablet computers, which were important precursors even though they stalled the ultimate development of the form factor. Foldable designs offer opportunities and challenges for hardware manufacturers and software developers. In 2020, several foldablable products are anticipated. This report defines these devices, which are divergent in their approaches, explores their history, and discusses future opportunities and challenges for developers and adopters of these products