Apple Receives A Patent For ‘No Look' Technology
March 26, 2013
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has approved Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,407,623 for “Playback control using a touch interface.” First filed in 2009, the patent covers a technology used on mobile devices that registers touch gestures when no content is displayed on the screen.
According to the invention, users are sometimes in situations when looking at a multitouch display isn’t feasible. For example, during a gym workout. The invention corrects this by offering “no look” controls, even when the device’s screen is dark.
From the patent summary:
To allow a user to control media playback using a touch sensing device without requiring the selection of displayed options, the electronic device can include a mode or configuration for which the touch sensing device can sense touch events, but not display any content on a display. For example, an electronic device with a touch screen can have a mode in which no content is displayed on the touch screen (e.g., the touch screen remains dark), but the touch screen is operative to detect touch events of the user.Apple’s system includes a number of finger gestures that may be initiated by the user. These include a single tap to play/pause music, clockwise circle to increase the volume, and more.
