You’ve probably read one or two articles saying that a smartphone is one of the filthiest devices that you can use, due to its “bacteria-loving warmth” among other things. But that probably didn’t stop you at all from using your phone, although germaphobes may have started constantly cleansing their hands before and after using their phones. But if you live in Japan and you are a stickler for cleanliness, your dream might come true as Kyocera announces the first soap-proof smartphone called Digno Rafre.
Yes, you read that right. It’s not just waterproof (well, we’re assuming it is water-proof) but also soap-proof. So this means you can literally wash the smartphone with soap as often as you want. Okay maybe not as long as you want, because waterproof has its limits too. You can only use foam soap on it, and not a bar soap, so pay attention. Kyocera said that coming up with this kind of device is infinitely more difficult than just plain waterproofing it. But they were able to discover a way to develop better sealing for the Digno Rafre.
There have been experiments and studies that have detailed that we are unknowingly holding a dirt and bacteria trap in our hands. The Wall Street Journal reported in 2012 that an “abnormally high number of bacteria” was found in the eight random phones they tested. Worse, some of the bacteria even had fecal contamination. So having a phone you can wash may actually be of interest to some.
Unfortunately, Kyocera has no plans of releasing this in the international market. If you live in Japan or if you know someone who lives there, you can get the Digno Rafre from mobile carrier KDDI for around $460, starting next week.
SOURCE: KDDI
VIA: Wall Street Journal
