AppleInsider has found yet another multi-touch patent application, this one expanding on Apple's already massive portfolio to include the ability to recognize which finger is touching, distinguish between palms and fingers, and enable all manner of restin
unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device
Check out the full article for more, and let us know if you think this is more fuel for the iTablet hype machine, or if Apple could have something else up their sleeve?
Reader comments
Ten-Finger, Dual-Hand Multi-Touch -- Apple Patent Watch
Maybe a table top thing?
(first!)
Apple is so smart they hire the smartest most talented nerds in the world. I'am talking about people who don't even think about pu$$y lol. For real.
This is how the tablet will accept input - invisible virtual keyboard. You will type on the screen but there will not be any visible keys. The tablet will recognize which finger you are pushing down with. Combined with the iPhone OS auto correction, the recognition will be close to 100% for two-hand typist. If you hunt and peck, you're out of luck.
as much as it sounds like a tablet input functionality, there is always the possibility that the regular notebook computers could dump a physical keyboard and the whole bottom part would be a trackpad which also utilizes these functionalities. something to think about at least...
That device looks like a good addition to the iMac: "... typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting..."
But also sounds like a tablet. Perhaps a MacBook tablet?
Cnet is also carrying this story: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10366281-1.html
However, Microsoft already has patents in this area for their Surface, and there are also some in the portfolio of the touch-pad manufacturers, principally Synaptic.
In all cases except the touch-pad patents, these Apple patents are concept patents, or Software patents.
Its questionable whether any of these stand the test of KSR vs Teleflex ( http://tinyurl.com/yewx575 ).
Given that a touch screen exists, and given that Synaptic touch pads could already differentiate between various methods of touching, (palm, fingers, thumb), there seems little room for yet another patented way of using a touch screen that would withstand a KSR based challenge.
Its easy to GET a patent in the US, its much harder to hold it.
Cnet is also carrying this story: http://tinyurl.com/ycbbw5o
However, Microsoft already has patents in this area for their Surface, and there are also some in the portfolio of the touch-pad manufacturers, principally Synaptic.
In all cases except the touch-pad patents, these Apple patents are concept patents, or Software patents.
Its questionable whether any of these stand the test of KSR vs Teleflex ( http://tinyurl.com/yewx575 ).
Given that a touch screen exists, and given that Synaptic touch pads could already differentiate between various methods of touching, (palm, fingers, thumb), there seems little room for yet another patented way of using a touch screen that would withstand a KSR based challenge.
Its easy to GET a patent in the US, its much harder to hold it.