Apple fanatics website Apple Insider gives details this week of a new interface that Apple is trying to patent for controlling devices like iPods (maybe iPhones as well) which marries up pressure on the underside of the device with the screen on the front.
The idea is to use the fingers which are gripping the device underneath on a pressure pad, and drive a cursor that is on the front, especially useful if you have a tiny screen, effectively replacing a touch screen with a sensitive backpad. The pressure underneath might be used to type, or to move an imaginary click wheel or to point and click a cursor.
The concept will be particularly useful on a device which suffers from fingers taking up too much of the screen, and from smudging.
Last time Apple tried to patent the interface to the iPod clickwheel, not only did it not get awarded the patent, but a rival MP3 player maker that got a similar patent years earlier sued it for royalties. This invention looks far more solid and original.
A soft key might be used to turn the feature on, and Apple sees it as a way of controlling the device with one hand.
According to Apple’s filing, the techniques for touch and force sensitive input may be applied to palm or hand-held personal computers, tablet computer systems, mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, portable video players and portable audio players.