Electronic device with a transformable multi-planar segmented display

An electronic device with a transformable multi-planar segmented display, the device comprising:

• a central body;
• and
• a plurality of peripheral elements surrounding the central body and movable by rotation about the central body, each one of the peripheral elements comprising a plurality of outward-facing sides facing away from the central body, and a plurality of inward-facing sides, wherein each one of the inward-facing sides has an inward-facing surface that faces an inward-facing surface of an inward-facing side of another one of the peripheral elements, wherein:
• each one of the outward-facing sides comprises a microprocessor-controllable electronic display screen;
• each one of the inward-facing sides is repositionable to face a different inward-facing side surface of a different one of the peripheral elements by the rotation of the peripheral elements about the central body;
• each one of the inward-facing sides includes a contact group of electrical contacts arranged to engage with another contact group of electrical contacts of the other one of the peripheral elements and, upon the rotation about the central body of the peripheral elements, to further engage with a different contact group of electrical contacts of the different inward-facing surface of the different one of the peripheral elements and disengage with the other contact group;
• wherein each contact group includes:
• a plurality of permanent magnets;
• a plurality of sockets recessed in a corresponding inward-facing side, each socket defining a cavity that houses a corresponding one of the plurality of permanent magnets, wherein the cavity is larger than a dimension of the housed permanent magnet to permit translational movement of the permanent magnet within the socket, and each socket further including an aperture through which at least a portion of the housed permanent magnet is permitted to protrude beyond the inward-facing surface of the corresponding inward-facing side;
• and a retention spring situated within each socket and coupled to the housed permanent magnet, the retention spring exerting a biasing force to retain the housed permanent magnet in a recessed position within the socket in an absence of engagement of the contact group with any other contact group, and wherein the biasing force is overcome in the presence of engagement of the contact group with any other contact group when the housed permanent magnet is magnetically attracted to another permanent magnet of that other contact group.