Apple Inc. is known for keeping the U.S. Patent Office busy. Apple lovers eager to get ahead of the latest Apple rumor, and there are many, regularly scan Apple’s patent applications to catch a glimpse of the future in all things Apple. The Cupertino, California-based computer giant just filed an application with the US Patent & Trademark Office showing innovative designs that would provide a unique e-reading experience for future iPhone users. The new designs feature highly developed flip action mapping controlled with a co-coordinate system and a specialized sensor. The iPhone of tomorrow will look nothing like the iPhone of today.
More Smartphones Used as E-Readers
We use our smartphones for just about everything these days, from e-commerce, virtual wallets, communication, social networking and reading. Despite the tiny screens, more people than ever before are using their iPhones and other smartphones to read books, reports, magazines and newspapers. Using an array of iPhone apps, such as the popular eReader, Stanza, as well as Kindle and Nook apps, users can easily read whole books and magazines on their non-e-ink display iPhone devices. And Apple’s design team is busy developing the next generation iPhone to provide users with an enjoyable and intuitive e-reading experience complete with bells, whistles and front and back displays.
Flip Action Mapping System
Patently Apple reports on the intriguing new patent application that reveals a brilliant flip action mapping system that exhibits useful tools to the user while reading, such as note taking, instant access to a dictionary and tools to conduct related searches. Depending on the direction of a controlled flip, users can access a table of contents for the e-book they are reading or a list of articles included in a magazine. For example, an “end over end” rotation would bring up a table of contents and the same flip in the opposite direction would provide note taking and annotation features.
Front and Back Displays
The most exciting reveal in the new iPhone patent application is the appearance of front and back displays for a rich e-reading user experience. Control features are illustrated in the application documents on both sides, which could control music and sound perhaps. And the displays on two sides are cleverly designed to respond to the co-coordinate system and sensor. Controlled flips would trigger the display of visual tools and menus on the front and back displays. And the futuristic iPhone would come equipped with advanced context sensitivity that coordinates the flipping movements with the type of media being displayed.
Flipping
The sensor and co-coordinate system is so sensitive; the device is designed to detect multiple changes in position, orientation and even acceleration. The sensor design is pure genius.
“Without this advanced sensor to keep track of every flipping movement, trying to return to the reader’s original e-book or e-magazine page would be like playing with a Rubik’s Cube. This is the genius behind Apple’s advanced sensor,” writes Patently Apple.
In addition, the iPhone of the future would also function as an image viewer.
It’s a brave new world and Apple is certainly not content to rest on its iPhone laurels.
