Digital Design Blog

Apple Files Breakthrough Multi-Input Patents

Apple filed three very interesting, and potentially breakthrough, multi-input patents in succession on July 30, 2007. Some of which may change the way we think about computing for years to come:

• SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR USE WITH A TOUCH SENSOR THAT IDENTIFIES HAND PARTS
• TOUCH SENSING WITH MOBILE SENSORS
• TOUCH SENSING WITH A COMPLIANT CONDUCTOR

Of course, Apple is not the only company in the multi-touch sandbox but given the success of the iPhone and iPod Touch, they are clearly leading the space and are no doubt hard at work on the next generation of user input and interaction technologies.

What does this mean for us?

Currently laptops are outselling desktops workstations, according to Current Analysis West. We are getting more familiar with multi-touch technology, thanks in turn to the iPhone and the iPod. The rest of the industry is fiercely scrambling to bring multi-touch into the hands of their customers. One of the more exciting products to include this technology would be tablet and Notebook PC’s. Notebooks especially with the limited track pad space available will benefit the most. Looking for instance at Apple’s “Full Hand Gestures” using multi touch, could easily suggest that they could make portions of the side panels next to Trackpad available as an input device.

Single input device

Since the dawn of the web we have always designed and invented around the single input device. The user either has a pointer (e.g. a mouse) that can ‘click’; or the user has a keyboard, where he or she can ‘click’ (e.g type). However, given the confines of today’s technology, no user can ‘click’ via a mouse or keyboard simultaneously.

Multi-Input device

Multi-Touch and Multi-Gesture will change not just the way we navigate and use our devices but also fundamentally change the experience that it leaves behind. A lot of people jump on the Web 2.0 or 3.o wagon of innovation but Web 2.0 or 3.0 is merely a collection/grouping of genres on the web. The fundamentals and technology of content and media based interaction have not changed. I believe that multi-touch and the incarnations that will stem from it will be the so-called ‘First Wave’ of a truly new way of user engagement since the invention of the mouse. The possibilities are endless and I for one can’t wait to embrace this. Just thinking about the possibilities for this, reminded me of the “wow factor” I encountered while making my first QTVR in Feb. 1995.

What’s next

Should we wait around for this to happen in three years from now? I believe we should already start to think about the possibilities and try and incorporate some of that thinking now. In the same way we had to do a mind shift in designing for Flash. Before long we were able to mimic most of that through DHTML. Never try and just create a solution to the problem you are faced. Think of a solution that might also solve problems you know you are going to face in the future. We know multi-touch technology and gesture input is coming, and it will be upon us sooner than you think. Innovation is only limited to our thinking and passion.

This will truly be a quantum leap forward for online user experience and I see an amazing opportunity to come up with even more creative ways of making the online experience more productive and enjoyable for the end consumer. The future is coming on much faster than we ever thought.