Patent: Multisided Full Screen Touch iPod

[MacRumors]

Appleinsider details a new patent applicaton from Apple which explores the possibility of seperating the display from the touch interface by placing the touch screen interface on the back of the device.

Apple describes the problems related to the use of a touch interface screen in the more traditional screen + touch interface together. The problems include obscuring the screen with your hand and introducing smudges onto the screen.

Instead the use of "back side touch" would eliminate these issues but still provide user interface feedback with the use of an on-screen cursor which identifies where the touch-interface is being used.

More specifically, a force-sensitive touch-surface is provided on a first or back-side surface of the device through which a user provides input (e.g., cursor manipulation and control element selection/activation)," the company wrote. "On a second or front-side surface, a display element is used to present one or more control elements and a cursor that is controlled through manipulation of the back-side touch-surface.

The patent is credited to John Elias who was one of the founders of Fingerworks, a company who had done much work in the field of touch-interfaces. Apple acquired Fingerworks in 2005.

[gallagb]

another cool hint----

of something we might never see.

or maybe we will- neat though

[sachamun]

Interesting, but I really don't like the idea of using such a device. I'd rather wait for better, more durable touch screens.

[MattG]

Sounds good..bring it on!

[mmzplanet]

i dunno about having to flip it that much....you would still touch the front.

[arn]

Originally Posted by mmzplanet

i dunno about having to flip it that much....you would still touch the front.

you wouldn't flip it. you would touch in on the back and still look at it from the front. read the description again.

arn

[IEatApples]

I think it's gonna work!

Brilliant even!

[iMikeT]

I'm willing to bet a Power Book G5 that we will never see this.

[P-Worm]

This just seems a bit awkward to me. How easy is it to select thing you can't really see? Sure the is a cursor to let you know where you are touching, but I'd rather not fumble around like that.

P-Worm

[Bye Bye Baby]

Originally Posted by P-Worm

This just seems a bit awkward to me. How easy is it to select thing you can't really see? Sure the is a cursor to let you know where you are touching, but I'd rather not fumble around like that.

P-Worm

If you think about it though, when you use the scroll wheel on your ipod, do you look at the wheel or the screen? Personally I am not even thinking about the scroll wheel when I use the ipod. I am not sure that putting it on the back may make such a difference.

[koobcamuk]

OK... does anyone else wonder how the hell to hold the thing if you're looking at the whole of the front and controlling it via all of the back?

holding it could be a nightmare... you'd touch the front screen anyway - just holding it!

[JPark]

Originally Posted by Bye Bye Baby

If you think about it though, when you use the scroll wheel on your ipod, do you look at the wheel or the screen? Personally I am not even thinking about the scroll wheel when I use the ipod. I am not sure that putting it on the back may make such a difference.

Imagine how you'd have to hold it in order to control it from the back but watch the front. It would be a pretty lame product IMO. This one's never making it past the patent stage.

[dontmatter]

Originally Posted by P-Worm

This just seems a bit awkward to me. How easy is it to select thing you can't really see? Sure the is a cursor to let you know where you are touching, but I'd rather not fumble around like that.

P-Worm

You can't see anything but a representative cursor when you're using a mouse, right? Particularly with a thin device, this could be great.

[jonharris200]

I thought of it first*! Apple, my door is open!

Originally Posted by jonharris200

How about a scroll wheel on the back of an iPod Video?

As you use the familiar circular and five-way push button mechanism on the back of the iPod, a digital version of the scroll wheel appears on the screen at the front.

This would obviously not be a full-blown user input such as a keyboard/mouse combination provides, but it could be a handy way of keeping a scroll wheel on the iPod while enlarging the screen... and avoiding greasy fingerprints.

Originally Posted by Appleinsider

In one embodiment of the invention, Apple said it could incorporate the functionality of click-wheel on the device's force-sensitive touch-surface via an etched or raised outline. When the user activates the rear-side click-wheel, a navigation menu and click-wheel will be shown on the front side.

* post #141 on that thread

[iSee]

This is just a trackpad positioned on the back of the device.
I'm not sure this is innovative enough to really be patentable. If a display becomes large enough to cover an entire side of a device, where else are the controls going to go?

Edit: Ah Ha! Read the post immediately before this one: prior art (pun intended!): Patent application DENIED!

[bretm]

Originally Posted by P-Worm

This just seems a bit awkward to me. How easy is it to select thing you can't really see? Sure the is a cursor to let you know where you are touching, but I'd rather not fumble around like that.

P-Worm

Oh, yeah. Like a mouse? How awkward.

[gonnabuyamac]

i've been trying to hold my nano with this whole screen on the back idea, and i actually think it's doable. it would take some getting used to, but i'd definitely buy one. - i didn't see it in the drawings, but i would think that the typical placement for the headphone jack could be in the way if you have to hold it sideways - but i really wouldn't want the cord jutting out from the middle of the thing either. hopefully they'll include bluetooth headphones.

[IHateUserNames]

Originally Posted by P-Worm

This just seems a bit awkward to me. How easy is it to select thing you can't really see?

The touch-sensitive area on the back will probably be something that works like a track pad.
Who looks at his track pad when working with a laptop computer? You just look at the cursor on your display while touching the track pad with your hands. Plain and simple.
This new iPod will work the same (with the exception that the track pad will be located on the back of the device, which makes sense because you hold an iPod in your hand). Brilliant idea. Bring it on, Steve!

[RRK]

Originally Posted by IHateUserNames

The touch-sensitive area on the back will probably be something that works like a track pad.
Who looks at his track pad when working with a laptop computer? You just look at the cursor on your display while touching the track pad with your hands. Plain and simple.
This new iPod will work the same (with the exception that the track pad will be located on the back of the device, which makes sense because you hold an iPod in your hand). Brilliant idea. Bring it on, Steve!

It's not a trackpad, the patent shows a keyboard. What you do on the back would be mirrored on the display on the front, like a graphics tablet, not just pushing around a curser like a mouse/trackball/trackpad.

[amac4me]

If we see this iPod at some point in the future, you can bet it will be released AFTER the release of the iPhone.

No way Apple would release a new generation iPod that could take away sales from the iPhone.

[whenpaulsparks]

did anyone notice how screwy the letters are arranged?

[RRK]

I have doubts about this one. I can see controlling a curser in this way but can you actually believe that we would be able to type using a virtual keyboard on the back while looking at the keys on the front. Presuming you will have two handed typing like Blackberrys and such and are using your forefingers to hold the device then your thumbs are above the screen. You will have to type with your middle fingers.

[ezekielrage_99]

Originally Posted by mmzplanet

i dunno about having to flip it that much....you would still touch the front.

I thought the same way about the first iPod's navigation system (e.g. it being clunky), but I do think Apple does a ver good job at implementing a controls for their hardware.

[EagerDragon]

Originally Posted by mmzplanet

i dunno about having to flip it that much....you would still touch the front.

I don't think so. Hold the current iPod in your hand, and use your index finger to carress the back of the unit. Move it up/down then left to right, pretty natural. Doing circles is not bad but takes getting used to it.

I think this patten has potential. However I think it maybe to block others from doing a similat interface.

The longer Apple prevents others, the longer it will have the market and the more time it has to innovate again and leap once more over the competition.

Just my opinion.

[notsofatjames]

how wierd would it be to touch the back of the iPod to control the front. I dont think it would catch on.