A new patent filing shows Apple exploring portable multi-touch skins that can be wrapped around three-dimensional objects, according to an AppleInsider report.
Apple notes that on notebooks touchpads and touch screens similar to the iPhone, the user moves one or more fingers on a two-dimensional surface to operate the device.
"However, for the operation of many devices, it is desirable, preferable or even necessary for the user to move his or her fingers over a three-dimensional surface," the filing states. "This is directed to a multi-touch skin placed along three dimensions of an object. A single multi-touch skin can be configured to span all three dimensions or two or more multi-touch skins can be used to span the three dimensions."
Apple says that one or more multi-touch skins can be permanently attached to an object or temporarily placed on the object for removal and application on a different object later on. When placed on an object, the skins would enable multi-touch inputs for that object that can be tracked to monitor the operation of the object.
Multi-touch skins could also include gestures for configuring and operating the objects, according to the filing, which would include implementing "any number of GUI interface objects and actions."
"This also relates to an improved multi-touch skin for measuring the magnitude (Z) of a touch," Apple explained. "In one example, the multi-touch skin has a corrugated surface. "This also relates to a multi-touch skin that can measure not only the magnitude (Z) of a touch, but also the force of the touch in one or more directions, i.e., the x, y and/or z directions. The four types of data can enable a broad vocabulary of actions and gestures."
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