Apple None-Touch iPod Interface?

[MacRumors]

A recently published patent application from Apple entitled "Proximity detector in handheld device" describes an interesting technology for potential use in the next generation of iPod devices.

Readers should realize that Apple while continues to publish patents on technologies that never make it into shipping products, the concepts described in this patent were referenced by Hon Hai chariman Terry Gou in June 2006:

Apple is about to unveil the next generation of iPod, the best-selling music player in the U.S., using a "none-touch" concept, Gou said without elaborating

At the time the "none-touch" description was speculated to be an audio-interface, but this recent patent describes:

A method for initiating floating controls on an electronic device, the method comprising: detecting the presence of an object above and spaced away from a surface of the electronic device; and displaying a particular graphical user interface element on a display of the electronic device when the object is detected above the surface of the electronic device.

Essentially, as users point their fingers towards the screen, the appropriate controls would appear on the screen - such as a scroll wheel. Example images show the scroll wheel appearing and disappearing based on the user interaction. Meanwhile, the user's intentions are interpreted based on Gestures - which have previously been described.

 

[twoodcc]

seems interesting. i don't know if i would use it that much, but this could be a good thing.

 

[VanMac]

Very Cool.

One way to elimate scratches

 

[fkalwar]

so would this be incorporated into the upcoming iPod, or the "next" update to the iPod?

 

[crackpip]

Very Cool.

One way to elimate scratches

Maybe not just scratches, but fingerprints, too. If a new iPod has a screen that ends up taking up the whole front, this may be a good way to keep the front cleaner. Iirc it was one of the major complaints of a video device released by Olympus sometime back. The device had a touch screen.

crackpip

 

[Luis]

Awesome

That would be realy awesome! cmon not only would it reduce scratches on the ipod but make it even cooler than it already is. This wold be one of the many features that would kill the Micro$oft "iPod Killer". I hope this is true....

 

[MrCrowbar]

Sounds cool to me. I guess all those people worried about fungerprints on the potencially touch screen iPod are psyched about this. So it is a touchscrenn you don't actually touch? This could really work out if done right. I wonder if you can still control your iPod in your pocked without having to look at it though... the iPod remote will come in handy if not

 

[Daveway]

I can see many first time user scratching their heads on this kind of design.

 

[penter]

this sounds very interesting and futuristic. i wonder how you click, or make a selection. it would be pointless if you could scroll wothout touching the screen, but had to touch it in order to click on the scroll wheel.
im excited though! sounds cool!

 

[dicklacara]

Umm...

I have a mental image of "flipping off" your iPod

 

[celebrian23]

I wonder if all of these possibilities for the 6G are all compatible with each other.

 

[Lixivial]

Kinda takes away from that whole "Simplicity is everything" slogan Apple is known for, doesn't it? While I'll reserve my judgments on the design until it's worked into a final product, it does look like the user needs to take unnecessary steps to actually use the click wheel. Then again, pictures (drawings) probably can't do the interface justice.

Still, not everything has to be digital over analog...

 

[crackpip]

i wonder how you click, or make a selection. it would be pointless if you could scroll wothout touching the screen, but had to touch it in order to click on the scroll wheel.

Yeah, that is a good question. It would seem to be a very touchy thing to differentiate scrolling from clicking the buttons. Maybe they'll move back to the 3G interface with the separate buttons. It seems that it might feel a bit awkward to me to not receive any tactile feed back.

I'm excited to see what Apple comes up with.


crack "Bad Puns" pip

 

[xfiftyfour]

sounds interesting, though i have a feeling many people will just ignore the feature and end up touching the screen anyway, lol.

 

[banjomamo]

They are just giving Microsoft fewer features to throw into that Zune player - whether Apples uses them or not is another issue.

 

[bradc]

Cool stuff, sort of like a tablet design? I want to see Microsoft's product for sure though.

Lot's of Rumors lately eh? The Rumor mill is getting pretty high!

 

[xPismo]

Wave your hands in the air controls?

Wait, I've seen that before somewhere?! Hmmmmm.

As long as I don't have to wear those gloves. uuugh.

 

[Stella]

This would be bloody expensive.. too much to incorporate into an iPod.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Is it just me or does anyone else think that if a company never uses a patent it should go pub domain after x number of years? This is tantamount to cyber squatting IMHO.
Who gives a crap if you thought up a great idea if all you are going to do is sit on it and never use it.

Complaints aside. Its a cool idea.

 

[Tommyg117]

fantastic idea if pulled off correctly. I can't wait.

 

[angelneo]

I think this will even allow apple to be more versatile in their UI design. Imagine if the ipod interface now is on LCD, with clickwheels, buttons controlled by programming logic internally. For the first time users or non-savvy users, apple can tweak the interface to be even much more simpler, for heavy users, they can customise their own interface. The interface can even react to the users action, guiding them to the right button if it detected that the users are having problems. None of these will be tied down to the hardware design, giving it more room to fit into any particular users' competency level.

 

[cslewis]

How about a proto-telepathic interface?

 

[Demoman]

I can see many first time user scratching their heads on this kind of design.

Gee, that would be a newsworthy event...confused first-time users.

Did you vote 'negative' on this? I cannot understand how the thumbs down vote happens so quickly, when there are few, if any, negative comments. Is Dell/MS just waiting for each new thread to come out?

 

[helmsc]

I can see many first time user scratching their heads on this kind of design.

Like me...I don't have an iPod ...yet.

 

[ezekielrage_99]

How Minority Report......

But seriously it sounds really dumb, I wonder what that thought projection iPod is picking up from me now......

I see dumbfounded iPod users