NTT Docomo, one of Japan's major cell phone carriers, has
announced they will be showcasing new prototype cell phones made of
wood at ITU Telecom World 2009 and CEATEC Japan 2009. The new line of
phones will be called "Touch Wood" and are made
with surplus wood from culling operations designed to maintain
healthy forests.
So far, "Touch Wood" production has used wood that was
culled from the Shimanto forest in Kochi prefecture. According to the
NTT Docomo press release, wood that is acquired during thinning
operations has limited applications but the "Touch Wood"
series gives the wood a commercial use.
The phone is a combined effort between Sharp, Olympus, and the
"more trees" project. The "more trees"
project is a reforestation
project Ryuichi Sakamoto founded with four others. Ryuichi
Sakamoto is a Japanese musician in addition to being a Academy Award,
Grammy, and Golden Globe winning environmentalist.
According to NTT Docomo, the body of the phone is made of Cypress
Wood and is touted to be durable, water resistant, and mildew
resistant. Unlike natural wood, the three-dimensional compression
molding is claimed to make the Touch Wood body more resistant to
wearing out. Mockup images of the phone make it look decidedly iPhone
like. The phone's graphical user interface is based on Ryuichi
Sakamoto's fellow "more trees" member Mikiya
Takimoto's photographic art.
NTT Docomo goes out of its way to mention each individual handset
will have its own distinct grain patterns and coloring because no
artificial colors or paints are used. The cypress wood will retain
its natural appearance and aroma.