Apple seeks patents for 3D and 'physics metaphor' gesture controls

[By Sharif Sakr]

Deep in the stodgy bowels of the USPTO sits a folder full of Apple patent applications specifically forgesture controls. A few more pages from that expanding tome were just made public, and the concepts unearthed are certainly thought-provoking. The first involves using a proximity sensor in addition to the touch panel to register gestures in 3D. For example, you could use three fingers to mark out the corners of a triangle on the screen and then “pull up” and pinch to create a pyramid for use in a CAD application. The second idea involves gestures based on intuitive “physics metaphors” that are recognized using motion sensors. So instead of navigating menus in order to start a file transfer between an iPhone and iPad, the user could arrange the desired files on the phone’s screen and then pretend to “pour” them onto the tablet — an idea which rather reminds of the funky Project Blox. Oh, did we just make a Cupertino lawyer twitch?

Patently Apple [1], Patently Apple [2] USPTO [1], USPTO [2]

See the original post here: http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/11/apple-seeks-patents-for-3d-and-physics-metaphor-gesture-contro/