Apple's latest patent app: multi-touch plus (insert technology here)

Multi-touch hasn't necessarily revolutionized the way we're interacting with our devices, but it's certainly a step in the right direction -- particularly when a touchscreen is such a huge part of the overall input equation as it is with the iPhone. But why stop there? A new patent app filed by Cupertino's finest suggests that touch and multi-touch data could be mixed in with all sorts of other inputs for more refined control of what we're trying to do; accelerometer control, force sensitivity, voice, and visual recognition are all mentioned as possibilities, meaning that theoretically we could one day be shaking and multi-pounding our iPhone 7Gs while screaming and flipping the bird. What device function that would actuate, we're not exactly sure -- but we're just throwing out ideas here.

[Via Unwired View]

[Blazeitup Posted Sep 4th 2008 9:15PM]

So they can draw hands. i loved the iClaw!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 9:21PM]

I suppose you mean iphone g7. 7g won't be here for a long time.
But here's to hoping that i'm wrong.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 4th 2008 11:33PM]

Is multi-touch really a step in the right direction? Twice as many fingerprints!

Seriously, Apple does not, in fact, cater to the majority. It therefore stands to reason that multi-touch may NOT be a step in the right direction.

[Famous By Marital Association Posted Sep 5th 2008 2:37AM]

Wow. This is about as good a thing as the patent on gravity.

Seems like that could only hamper progress in the industry at large, since their attorneys will issue C&D's to anymore that does anything distantly resembling their "innovation".

[slamEVIL Posted Sep 5th 2008 12:25PM]

HTC has a way better approach with their finger gestures instead of apples multi-touch. at least you could do HTC's way with one hand. apple makes such a big deal about not needing a stylus because you need two hands and then go and do this (and now more).

by the way, i'm going to patent the way i use my thumb to select items and i'll sue any other phone manufacturer that copies my technique.

[Level 5 Posted Sep 5th 2008 12:56PM]

unless it brings up really hot porn when i whip my dick out, it's not interactive enough.

[Sane1 Posted Sep 5th 2008 1:30PM]

Slap your dick on your iPhone it brings up porn! Cant get anymore interactive then that!