Amazon launches airbags for smartphones

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This is an age where the trend for carrying expensive smartphones in hand is in fashion. However, there is always a risk of damaging such expensive devices if they are accidentally dropped. For this purpose, online shopping giant Amazon has come up with a safety airbag for smartphones.

As the name suggests, the airbag will protect the smartphone from a drop or a sudden shock. The new technology makes use of motion sensors which are these days found in most smartphones. The sensors will detect when the phone has entered an airborne state, after which the mini airbag is deployed to cushion its fall.

This week, the online giant has also claimed a patent for protecting the innovative system. Apart from just the smartphones, the technology can also be used on electronics readers, including Amazon’s Kindle, computer tablets and cameras. The patent application was filed by founder Jeff Bezos.

According to the application documentation, “Prior to impact between a surface and a device, a determination of a risk of damage to the device is made. If the risk of damage to the device exceeds a threshold, a protection system is activated to reduce or eliminate damage to the device.” The patent adds that the airbag would draw information from data from the mobile phone’s built-in camera, gyroscope, accelerometers and other such devices.