Apple is known for its innovation and its latest patent is no different. The US20230221852A1 patent is the latest in Apple’s line of technology that could revolutionize the way we interact with touchscreens.
The patent, which is designed to enhance navigation on touchscreens, introduces a computer-implemented method that displays a portion of an electronic document on a touch screen. What’s interesting is that when an object is detected, a vertical and horizontal bar appear on top of the displayed portion, showing its exact position in the document. After a certain condition is met, the bars disappear.
This technology could be used in a variety of applications. For example, it could be used to read e-books. When a user touches the screen, the bars would appear to show the exact position of the page being read. The user could then move the page around to focus on a particular part of the page. The technology could also be used in gaming. The bars could be used to show the exact position of a character or object in a game.
In addition to the US20230221852A1 patent, Apple has also filed several other applications related to touchpads and touchscreen technology. These applications include U.S. Pat. Application Nos. 10/188,182, “Touch Pad For Handheld Device,” filed Jul. 1, 2002; 10/722,948, “Touch Pad For Handheld Device,” filed Nov. 25, 2003; 10/643,256, “Movable Touch Pad With Added Functionality,” filed Aug. 18, 2003; 10/654,108, “Ambidextrous Mouse,” filed Sep. 2, 2003; 10/840,862, “Multipoint Touchscreen,” filed May 6, 2004; 10/903,964, “Gestures For Touch Sensitive Input Devices,” filed Jul. 30, 2004; and 11/038.
Apple’s latest patent could have a major impact on the way we interact with touchscreens, but it’s important to note that patented technology doesn’t always make it to the market. Even if Apple decides to pursue this technology, there is no guarantee that it will be available to the public anytime soon.
Regardless of whether this patent becomes a reality, Apple has shown that it is committed to innovating and finding new ways to improve the user experience. The company continues to be at the forefront of the industry and it is likely that we will see more patents like US20230221852A1 in the future.