Dual-Sided Touch Panels for iPhones, MacBooks, Tablets?
A new Apple patent application reveals that Apple has been working on some unique approaches to incorporating touch interfaces into future iPhones and MacBooks.
Apple introduces the idea of a double-sided translucent touch surface. This touch surface would be sensitive to touch on both sides. When placed as the bottom half of a traditional laptop...
... it could function as a multi-touch keyboard including the use of multi-touch gestures. When the user closed the laptop, however, the other side of the touch screen could act as a multi-touch overlay to the screen -- giving the device a tablet-like form factor.
Apple also explores the possibilities of incorporating a similar translucent touch pad to offer a mobile phone with similar capabilities.
Apple introduces the idea of a double-sided translucent touch surface. This touch surface would be sensitive to touch on both sides. When placed as the bottom half of a traditional laptop...
... it could function as a multi-touch keyboard including the use of multi-touch gestures. When the user closed the laptop, however, the other side of the touch screen could act as a multi-touch overlay to the screen -- giving the device a tablet-like form factor.
Apple also explores the possibilities of incorporating a similar translucent touch pad to offer a mobile phone with similar capabilities.
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51 months ago
As long as there is another patent for how to keep the touch screen from smudge marks Id get one.
51 months ago
Oooh! Now THIS I could get used to! It'd be perfect for touch typists, and it would be GREAT for graphic artists :D Just hope they let us use a stylus with this... Way to go Apple!
51 months ago
So all the guts of the comp would be behind the screen? Seems like that wouldn't work out weight distribution wise, it'd keep tipping over. Interesting idea though.
51 months ago
As long as there is another patent for how to keep the touch screen from smudge marks Id get one.
Wash your hands?
51 months ago
This is exciting to see what Apple is developing. I'm only thinking about how much AppleCare would cost for something like that.
51 months ago
Wash your hands?
** otherwise known as "a method for removal and prevention of undesirable foreign contaminants on a touch-based computer display interface"
Apple probably owns that patent already. Expect to be sued in the near future for washing your hands without paying.
51 months ago
Read this earlier at Appleinsider. Bad news for all those who love analogue keypads and great news for the rest of us. I look forward to when Photoshop and other design programs have touch capabilities - especially with a screen overlay.
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