I'm beginning to wonder if Apple will have any time to develop actual products if their lust for patenting continues at its current rate. It hardly seems like five minutes since the last one, yet already we're looking at the snappily-titled "MultiTouch Gesture Dictionary" - it describes a grouping of multi-fingered chords and movements that have either predefined or user-assigned functionality attached.
You've seen all this in the iPhone - things like finger pinches to zoom or flicks to send messages - but the idea of gestures to speed up control is nothing new. Most current browsers have some degree of gesture control, either built-in or via third-party software, while compact chording interfaces such as reduced-button keyboards have long been available.
The patent images show a number of potential gestures and commands, including right-clicking using finger taps, dragging simultaneously in multiple-directions and more. What impact this may have on existing interface methods which rely on similar interaction remains to be seen.
[via Gizmodo]
These patents obviously describe what Apple has discovered while testing and developing a useable gesture-based UI for tablet/touch screen iMacs.
Apple’s intentions may not be to actually produce one, or it may be to go into production with some touch-screen wonder tomorrow. The bottom line is that, in developing, they found it prudent to “own” these gestures.
I loved the iphone 3g with its excellent features and its out look.