Although the
MacBook Air's multitouch trackpad is pretty nifty, it looks like Apple has even grander plans in store -- a recent patent filing describes the MBA's current features as "Basic Multitouch" and contains descriptions of "Advanced" touch operations like system control, file management and browser navigation. While the filing details using a combination of the thumb and two fingers to cut, copy and paste -- something that seems awfully relevant to that little iPhone thing Apple sells -- what we're most intrigued by is the description of the "side pinky swipe" to control system functions like volume and screen brightness. Since the side of the pinky produces a different shape than your fingertip on the touch sensor, the system can automatically recognize it, making it ideal for quick adjustments -- we're already dreaming up lists of macros to trigger. Of course, there's no telling if and when we'll ever see this stuff in a product, but it's probably not a coincidence the iPhone, iPod touch, and MacBook Air all use the
same Broadcom touch controller -- let's hope those long-awaited new MacBook Pros join the club, eh?
[Via
AppleInsider, thanks Kiwi616]
posted February 19th 2008 2:48PM
what happens when you slide the pointer, middle and pinky fingers across the trackpad? will the mac book squeal with delight?
I see alot of greasy screens in the future..
Just because they claim it in a patent doesn't mean they're going to implement it anytime soon, or ever. A big part of patenting is making your claims broad enough so there's no room for anyone else to patent anything remotely like it. Sad but true. Also sad is that the Patent and Trademark office goes along with it. They leave it to the courts to sort out all the conflicting claims.
The excessive broadness of Apple's claims also brings them into some highly disputatious territory, where they could be said to be patenting not just a technology, but the entire "concept" of gestural computing, and, even more controversial, the natural human movements ("gestures") that go with it. Only technologies are patentable, not concepts. Natural human movements are explicitly excluded from what is patentable, if I'm not mistaken.
That said, I wonder why they didn't patent the "Mork" gesture. That would have been so useful for the forthcoming iPod Nano-Nano. Yuk, yuk, yuk.
use of "disputatious" FTW!
err... i tot we should design things to make our life easy... but this one? how about those unfortunate people who is handicapped and physically disabled due to finger injury? i do wish Apple and other PC maker can come out something practical, for the good of all.
wow Ali G posts on engadget?
Strange that people think stuff is new. I, and many others, have been using these sorts of gestures for several years. The base of this stuff comes from fingerworks, which is now out of business, and the IP now belongs to Apple. If you would like to see samples of dozens of gestures see http://www.fingerworks.com/userguides.html
i like it if easy to remember
sony already patented a 5 finger touch (plus stylus) panel 3-4 months back.
this new "war" of touch panels is gonna be awesome :)
These multi-touch gestures are very easy to remember. They quickly second nature with muscle memory. I've been using gestures on my FingerWorks TouchStream keyboard.
Apple bought the Fingerworks technology but dropped the product. Evil Apple! Now I worry every day that my 5-plus-year-old keyboard will fail and I'll have to regress to using an old-fashioned keyboard. I can't live without gestures!
What about amputees, the deformed, and other strawmen? With Apple holding a gun to their head, they will be unable to choose one of the dozens of other makes and models available on the open market.
It amazes me how geeks hate any product not designed for them with such passion. I'd love to hear how the typical member of the Engadget crowd reacts to new product announcements from Tampax, Efferdent, or Playskool whenever "Family Guy" goes to commercial.