ZTE's Project CSX, a content which looked to crowdsource ideas for the company's next smartphone from online users, has finally crowned a winner.
The concept that came out on top after the final voting is the "Eye-Tracking, Self-Adhesive Phone," which beat out four other finalists in the last round.
In a post on the official forum for Project CSX, ZTE praised the group behind the concept, Team One Technology, for doing a great job in explaining the idea, drafting the design and illustrating how a customer would use the innovative product.
The entry for the concept of the sticky smartphone highlights functions that allow for minimum user interaction, in the form of translating the eye movements of the user to perform certain tasks without the need to touch the device's screen. The system will utilize a pair of laser-focusing cameras, one on top of the device and another at the bottom.
The feature combines with the device's back cover, which is partially made with a self-adhesive polymer, for a true hands-free experience. Users will be able to stick the smartphone on a wall or any flat surface and then use their eyes for navigation and controls. The self-adhesive function is not just a gimmick, the group explains, as the eye-tracking technology works best when the device is in a stable position.
Team One Technology also addressed potential privacy concerns with other people able to see what is on the smartphone as it will be stuck to a wall. The device will also feature a split screen technology that will make it difficult for other people to see what is on the smartphone's display.
Thousands of users coming from 176 countries participated in Project CSX, from the development of the ideas through the final voting.
"We are overwhelmed with the amount of consumer participation and positive reception to Project CSX," said ZTE USA CEO and chairman Lixin Cheng.
The eye-tracking self-adhesive phone acquired 36 percent of all votes in the final round, beating the other finalists by a significant margin. The concept for intelligent smartphone covers acquired 21 percent of the votes, followed by the idea for a flagship smartphone with stock Android installed as the operating system at 19 percent. The entry for a virtual reality-powered diving mask came in at fourth place with 16 percent of the votes, with the Powerglove, which is a programmable glove that can control Android apps through hand movement, coming in at fifth place with 8 percent.
As part of their prize, Team One Technology will be joining ZTE in Las Vegas at the Consumer Electronics Show of 2017.
ZTE, however, said that Project CSX is not over, as the company will continue to crowdsource ideas for the device, including suggestions for its name, its colors, and more. The announcement of the release of the device into the market will then come sometime in 2017.
