14 DAY TRIAL // The touch-screen interface of the upcoming iPhone is without a doubt one of its main features and attractions. However, the possibilities don't stop with the iPhone and Apple has certainly been giving them a through look, as proven by a recent company filing.
The December 6, 2006 patent filing with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, has iPhone interface designer Brian Huppi describe the next generation of Apple mice that will abandon the traditional buttons and scroll ball in favor of a touch sensitive housing. This mouse would be able to function in different ways, depending on how it is held.
"The method generally comprises first sensing in which hand position the mouse is being held, each hand position indicating a corresponding mode of operation of the mouse," Huppi wrote. "If the mouse is being held in a first hand position, the mouse performs according to a first mode of operation, whereas if the mouse is being held in a second hand position, the mouse performs according to a second mode of operation."
The modes can be anything from moving of a cursor to panning and scrolling. All these functions would be performed simply by changing the position of the fingers on the device, without the need for any additional input. As part of the invention, Huppi notes, the mouse is configured to provide command information, which informs the host system (Mac) as to which of the GUI movements (e.g., cursor or scroll/pan) to implement when the mouse is moved along the surface.
One embodiment of the invention, optical sensors would be used within the actual mouse housing, which would in turn be made of a translucent or semi-translucent material which would allow light to pass through to the optical sensors.
The patent application, revealed for the first time Thursday, remains under review.