Apple Patent Application Details iPhone Control Via Finger Swipes Over Camera

[MacRumors]

Patently Apple points to another interesting patent application from Apple filed in August 2008 and published this morning detailing means of controlling an iPhone or other handheld device by swiping one's finger across the camera lens. Most prominently, the document suggests the use of the proposed functionality to control voicemail options such as rewind, fast forward, pause and other options while the handset is held to the user's ear. The patent application also describes integration of an accelerometer to detect tapping input to supplement the finger swipes.

In one embodiment, to access his voice mailbox, a user may tap the phone to cause playback of a message to pause, tap the phone again to resume playback, swipe his finger over the camera lens in one direction to fast forward playback, and swipe his finger over the camera lens in another direction to rewind playback. These actions allow the user to control functions of voicemail review without removing the device from over his ear.

In another embodiment, functions for controlling call features utilize similar user actions or motions. Features such as merging multiple calls, putting a call on hold, and switching between or among multiple simultaneous calls may be controlled by single or double (or any number of) taps of the device, as detected by an accelerometer of the device. These taps may be preprogrammed by a manufacturer, or selected and programmed by a user.

Apple's patent application also describes the use of swiping over the device's camera for navigation in a document or application. Finger swiping over the camera lens could be used to navigate Web pages or other content such as contact lists.

Apple has clearly been researching methods of input for its handheld devices that do not directly involve a touchscreen. Several years ago, Apple filed a patent application describing the use of "back side touch" for controlling an iPod, while earlier this month the company was granted a patent for a touch-sensitive bezel. One analyst has also claimed that Apple's next-generation iPhone will include a touch-sensitive casing.

Article Link: Apple Patent Application Details iPhone Control Via Finger Swipes Over Camera

 

[millertime021]

Interesting. I personally don't mind having to move the phone away from my ear, but this would certainly be cool.

 

[spencers]

Haha. "backside touch"

 

[ajones46]

I understand the back of the phone, but why over the camera? I'd try hard not to touch the camera so that my pictures won't come out blurry from all the oils smeared on it

 

[doctoree]

Lol. Again one of the manny patents that will certainly never be used in a shiping product. Just like the other one posted today...

 

[batchtaster]

I understand the back of the phone, but why over the camera? I'd try hard not to touch the camera so that my pictures won't come out blurry from all the oils smeared on it

You said it yourself: over. Not on. The camera lens is recessed.

 

[jayducharme]

Now I understand this concept of a touch-sensitive case. I find it a minor inconvenience to pull the phone away from my face each time I have to press a number to get through an automated system. The speakerphone feature has helped in that situation. But it would be really convenient to simply use gestures on the back of the phone to input numbers.

 

[La Porta]

Amazing the stuff that people come up with. Inventiveness never gets old.

 

[fastbite]

Don't forget to clean the lens after all that swiping.

 

[ss957916]

That's it. Apple have lost it. To have wasted money patenting such an awful idea is beyond me.

 

[talkingfuture]

Will be interesting to see how this is implemented if at all. Might be useful or maybe they are stopping others from using it.

 

[lamina]

This seems definitely plausible. I can picture this on the next iPhone, that's for sure. It's pretty intuitive and would likely prove to be very useful.

 

[str1f3]

Will be interesting to see how this is implemented if at all. Might be useful or maybe they are stopping others from using it.

Apple only uses patents defensively. The only thing they protect is their copyright.

 

[goobot]

does no one see a front camera but me?

 

[bretm]

You said it yourself: over. Not on. The camera lens is recessed.

The glass protecting the lens isn't recessed in the slightest. It's perfectly level with the back of the iPhone. And it scratches pretty easy. My original iPhone was useless as a camera after I scratched it.

 

[bretm]

does no one see a front camera but me?

Just you.

 

[jontucker]

Why are they fannying about with this "over the camera" thing when they could just implement the same type of touch surface as the Magic Mouse which would mean you could control pretty much anything from the back of the phone??

 

[Doctor Q]

I assume this would work only with sufficient light. Outdoors at night? Maybe not.

If you have light around, I wonder if tapping the lens would work as well. It could sense the light when your finger is up and the lack of light when your finger is down. You could send text messages by tapping Morse Code while still talking on the phone!

 

[ipoddin]

You said it yourself: over. Not on. The camera lens is recessed.

Doesn't matter. You'll still smear your pictures. And how will this be affected by the use of a case?

 

[Stetrain]

Why are they fannying about with this "over the camera" thing when they could just implement the same type of touch surface as the Magic Mouse which would mean you could control pretty much anything from the back of the phone??

Because sensing the shadow of your finger with the camera has $0 in additional hardware costs, its all software.

 

[Vandam500]

Because sensing the shadow of your finger with the camera has $0 in additional hardware costs, its all software.

Yep

 

[SandynJosh]

Patently Apple points to another interesting The patent application also describes integration of an accelerometer to detect tapping input to supplement the finger swipes.

"Tap once for Spanish. Tap twice for French, Tap out 'Shave and a haircut' for English."

 

[DipDog3]

They want to get rid of ALL of the buttons!

 

[AriX]

Umm. Why is the iPhone running Windows? Look at the close/maximize/minimize buttons. I mean, obviously this doesn't mean the iPhone will ever run Windows, but why the heck do they depict it with clearly Windows-inspired buttons?

Oh, and as a bonus, the scrollbars are Windows-y too.

 

[notromeel]

Umm. Why is the iPhone running Windows? Look at the close/maximize/minimize buttons. I mean, obviously this doesn't mean the iPhone will ever run Windows, but why the heck do they depict it with clearly Windows-inspired buttons?

Oh, and as a bonus, the scrollbars are Windows-y too.

I didn't see that - hmmm, i wonder...