I haven't talked about an Apple patent for a while, but today I have an interesting one for you recorded for a 3D interface dedicated to our iDevices. The patent registered by the Apple company describes a new interface that would be controlled by users using a touchscreen but also the proximity sensor and the gyroscope. Basically, Apple presents us with an interface where the user could change the perspective from which the images are presented on the screen and the sensors implemented in the iDevice would work in tandem with the touchscreen to allow a user to use the operating system.
Due to the limited size of the typical display on a mobile device, a 3D GUI can be difficult to navigate using conventional means, such as a finger or stylus. For example, to view different perspectives of the 3D GUI, two hands are often needed: one hand to hold the mobile device and the other hand to manipulate the GUI into a new 3D perspective.
Apple claims in its patent that users could navigate through the iOS interface using only the sensors in iDevices, without touching the touchscreen, something quite interesting but far from reality, from my point of view. Apple patents many technologies, but unfortunately very few of them end up being actually used by us, so don't get your hopes up to see this one in iOS too soon.
