Navigating an iPad thru finger gestures without having to touch the display? Hovering...

[plucky duck]

Just a thought that came to mind. Wouldn't it be cool if we could actually navigate IOS on the iPad via gestures hovering near the display without actually touching the screen itself? How far or close our hands have to hover depends on 3D mapping sensors that's located on all 4 size bezels of the display.

Or by snapping of a finger, or tapping a sequence on a table? Navigation through air movements and/or sound? Too far fetched? Impractical? Creating a solution to a problem that doesn't exist?

 

[JBGoode]

The article is from last year but this is already an idea:

https://www.phonearena.com/news/Apple-2019-iPhone-3D-rear-camera-air-gestures-interface_id108168

 

[joeblow7777]

I remember that my brother had a Galaxy S4 that could do that years ago. It was a gimmick that no one ever used.

 

[AutomaticApple]

I remember that my brother had a Galaxy S4 that could do that years ago. It was a gimmick that no one ever used.

I remember it too.

 

[Shirasaki]

Being cool does not mean it is useful. And there is just a lot smaller margin for error. I would not bother about this hover thing during my daily use cause touching is still decent enough, although I can see sometimes hover control makes sense.

 

[ericwn]

I think one issue with these analogue kind of input methods where more or less happens depending on how much input you provide is that it’s hard to control without feeling the input or feeling any resistance.

 

[VertPin]

It would be too gimmicky.

 

[haruhiko]

Bad idea. Just like those eye movement controls when the iPhone X first debuted. Sounds cool but causes fatigue since there is no way to distinguish between input and accidental gestures.

 

[Newtons Apple]

LOL! How close would your fingers need to be?

NO.