Patent shows Apple tablet

Recently, the US Patent and Trademark Office published several of Apple's patents regarding a user programmable switch, and real-world gestures, with one patent showing a sliding tablet design concept. The first, entitled User Programmable Switch, relates to methods which would allow portable device users to change a button to serve a number of different purposes on the fly. The button could be configured to switch between different profiles, with certain ring tones, volume settings, screen brightness levels, and more.

The iPhone has helped Apple discover new input methods through the multi-touch interface, and is already known to be expanding multi-touch interaction into Mac OS X. As such, it is seeking to patent a dozen more advanced gestures, such as an "OK" hand sign or stamp of approval, or gathering files through contracting an open hand to a closed fist.

Searching deep within the gesturing patent reveals a concept for an often-talked about Mac tablet-style laptop, showing a laptop that sits in a typical fashion, but closes by sliding the bottom of the screen forward, laying the top part down. Apple has mentioned the future inclusion of multi-touch into its product line, but has so far not shown its method of incorporating the service.

by MacNN Staff