Apple has been granted a patent for touch-sensitive smart bezel technology that works as a secondary input mode for smaller iOS devices.
The patent, entitled “Electronic device, display and touch-sensitive user interface”, was granted by the US Patent and Trademark Office and will enable Apple to create a smart bezel.
A smart bezel would extend over a portion of the tablet or smartphone display and would be touch-sensitive. It would be either partially or entirely light-transmissive that can hide or reveal that section of the screen on command.
“In one embodiment, the display device has an electronic display having an active area for presenting visual content; a housing holding the electronic display and having an opening allowing a person to view a first portion of the active area; and a bezel about the opening, the bezel covering a second portion of the active area and providing a window through which at least a part of the second portion can be viewed.”
Embedded sensors would apparently be able to sense when the user’s finger is coming close to the smart bezel portion. That section of the screen would then be illuminated by a touch or a hovered finger over the display.
According to the patent the smart bezel section could be used to display additional text or graphics beyond the main screen to create a second form of input.
It is not known whether the technology would be incorporated within any future technology, but is said to be designed for devices with small screens.
Could the technology be used for wearable technology devices like the highly rumoured Apple Watch?
Rumours surrounding an upcoming wearable tech device from Apple have grown fiercer lately as the company applied for the iWatch trademark in Japan, then again in Mexico and Taiwan.
Next, tell us which Apple iWatch features you’d like to see.
Via: AppleInsider
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
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We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
