Apple introduces real-world gestures
A new Apple patent was published by the US Patent & Trademark Office late last week that generally relates to the detection and interpretation of gestures by touch-and-hover sensitive devices like the iPhone, and more particularly, to the detection and interpretation of real-world gestures and security-related gestures by touch and hover sensitive devices. Apple introduces gestures such as those that could lock, unlock or delete an application and/or item. Twelve gestures in total are covered in this report. Apple’s race to be innovative in this new area of technology involving gesture input recognition is evident with each and every patent on this subject that they file. With the iPhone racing to be in more than 70 countries by the end of 2008, there’s no doubt that the universal language of gesturing is going to be a key battle ground for the next decade.
OK Gestures
Patent FIGS. 18a -18c noted above, illustrate an exemplary “OK gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. An “OK gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring an affirmative response, such as a text box UI element that asks the user whether a certain action is to be taken (e.g. “Are you sure you want to delete this file?”).
Grasp Everything Gestures
Patent FIGS. 19a-19e above, illustrate an exemplary “grasp everything gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “grasp everything gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring a grouping action, such as the grouping of UI elements such as file icons or graphics symbols on a desktop or drawing page.
Stamp of Approval Gestures
Patent FIGS. 20a -20b illustrate an exemplary “stamp of approval gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “stamp of approval gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring an affirmative response, such as a UI element including text that asks the user whether a certain action is to be taken (e.g. “Do you accept all highlighted changes?”).
Circle Select Gesture
Patent FIGS. 21a-21b illustrate an exemplary “circle select gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “circle select gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring a grouping action, such as the grouping of UI elements such as file icons or graphics symbols on a desktop or drawing page.
X To Delete Gestures
Patent FIGS. 22a-22d below, illustrate an exemplary “X to delete gesture” according to embodiments of this invention.
An “X to delete gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring a deleting action, such as the deleting of a UI element such as file icon or graphics symbol on a desktop or drawing page.
A Knock to Inquire Gestures
Patent FIGS. 23a-23b illustrate an exemplary “knock to inquire gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “knock to inquire gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring an inquiry action, such as determining whether an application, file, person of interest or other entity is available to be opened, accessed, communicated with, and the like.
The Hitchhiker Gestures
Patent FIGS. 24a -24h above and below, illustrate an exemplary “hitchhiker gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “hitchhiker gesture” formed by either hand over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring a directional input, such as a scrolling, panning, windowing, translating in time (e.g., moving backward or forward in time in an audio or video recording), and the like.
Shape Gestures
Patent FIGS. 25a-25h above and below, illustrate exemplary “shape gestures” according to embodiments of this invention. Shape gestures formed by either or both hands over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform various operations, including creating a graphic image of that shape.
Identification Gestures
Patent FIGS. 26a-26d above, illustrate exemplary “identification gestures” according to embodiments of this invention. An “identification gesture” formed by either or both hands on or over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring an identification action, such determining whether the user is to get access, or continue to have access, to a restricted account, file or other item.
Unlock, Lock Gestures
In another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 26e, the thumb and another finger of hands 2600 can be placed together near a center of the touch sensor panel, resulting in the image of touch 2616 as shown in FIG. 26f, and then spread towards the four corners of the touch sensor panel, generating intermediate images 2618.
Recognition of this “unlock gesture” can unlock an object or application. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 26g, the thumb and another finger of hands 2600 can be placed towards the four corners of the touch sensor panel, resulting in the image of touch 2620 as shown in FIG. 26h, and then moved towards the center of the touch sensor panel, generating intermediate images 2622. Recognition of this “lock gesture” can lock an object or application.
Hand Edge Gestures
Patent FIGS. 27a-27d illustrate an exemplary “hand edge gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “hand edge gesture” can be formed by initially placing the edge of either hand (palm edge plus pinky finger edge) over a touch or hover sensitive device, with the thumb pointing upwards away from the sensor panel or alongside the index finger. With the thumb pointing toward the ceiling (or along surface normal vector), the wrist can advantageously have a much wider range of motion for rotation/orientation than in any other hand arrangement (including rotation with five fingertips, or a hand flat on surface). The hand edge gesture, optionally along with various sweeping motions, can be detected and interpreted to perform operations such as quickly orienting an application or control along the elongated axis defined by the detected hand edge, changing to another desktop, sweeping away applications, icons, files, performing undo or redo operations, and the like.
Framing Gestures
Patent FIGS. 28a -28b illustrate an exemplary “framing gesture” according to embodiments of this invention. A “framing gesture” formed by one or both hands over a touch or hover sensitive device can be detected and interpreted to perform operations requiring definition of a certain area.
Patent FIG. 28a illustrates an exemplary orientation of hands 2800 giving a “framing gesture” over area 2802 according to embodiments of this invention. FIG. 28b shows the image of actual touch 2806, which can be roughly the shape of an upside-down U. After the detected image 2806 has been converted to one or more features and classified and grouped as a “framing gesture,” parameters for the feature can be computed, such as an approximate window or area 2802 framed by the “framing gesture,” and appropriate action can then be taken. Framed window 2802 can be used to open a detail portal, magnifier, or dialog, or place a photo, for example.
Apple lists Wayne Carl Westerman (San Francisco, CA) and Myra Mary Haggerty (San Mateo, CA) as the inventors of this patent that was filed in the first of half of 2007
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Written and researched by Neo.
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