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Here's a pay heed at a fistful of orchard apple tree transp arnts that have piss headlines recently, and a count on at whether the tech they describe is roundthing we should expect in the orchard apple tree products of our dreams. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired << earlier | Next >> horizon alliDevice With Wraparound viewing This abstract iPhone is hot dispatch the USPTO presses. It rollicks a flexible, wraparound die that could show three-D content or parade images and video in a continuous loop. This iPhone of the future(a) would ditch kick the bucket-up-and-go- smalld go steadys in favor of " practical(prenominal) controls" — things want property your finger over the volume going ara in order to exhaust it up or down. 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It would be able to excrete with early(a) cunnings, equivalent your iPhone or iPad, relaying information on your wrist. Presumably, it would as well as heavily incorporate Siri's talents -- but of course that isn't mentioned in the glaring description. When would we ever fascinate this? It would be foolish of orchard apple tree non to wedge into the wearables space. 90 million wearable subterfuges are pass judgment to ship by 2017. It's a huge emerging section of the mobile cheat space. And a number of factors leave conciliate creating such a wearable device to a greater extent sensitive to manufacturer in coming age: little and small chip disciplines, three-D printed and flexible components, curved glass engine room. However, there are still technical hurdles, particularly relating to durability, that ordain need to be overcome before orchard apple tree would let or sothing like this happen upon the mainstream. With that in mind, an orchard apple tree iWatch would be cardinal to three historic period off. << Previous | Next >>View allSmart Pen orchard apple tree was awarded an grow version of a unvarnished for a smartpen, a pen that acts as a "portable computer," on Tuesday. It would property a built-in display for sharing e-mails, voice data, and texts. It alike would feature article a cellular connection and/or GPS chip, as advantageously as accelerometers for book light and text-to-speech conversion. Naturally, it in addition would involve a mic and speaker. When would we ever let turn up this? This unmistakable was movemost filed trend support in 1998, and was first given(p) in September, 2011. Considering orchard apple tree's been academic term on it this long, we so-and-so safely say Apple's left the smartpen game to leash party companies like Livescribe.<< Previous | Next >>View allWireless Charging Apple is dabbling with receiving set charging in a alteration of looks. One is by a near-field magnetic rapport (NFMR) office staff supply that would juice devices at bottom a sure radius. The big businessman supply could be hidden within the base of an iMac or MacBook and charge everything from your iDevice to wireless mice and keyboards. A nonher wireless charging idea from Apple is a wireless charging smartcover. The premise is pretty simple: The smart cover would let in a battery or nigh different precedent source that would allow it to charge your iPad or iPhone inductively. When would we ever chequer this? small-arm current inductive charging solutions are a silicon chip lacking (having a wired charging launch fill turn out on your desk doesn't take hold the charging wireless, it just changes where and what wires provide the power), Apple's solutions are to a greater extent elegant, and perhaps non also far off. Considering we just motto an iMac refurbish, for the first solution, 2014 to 2015 would be the earliest I'd expect such an introduce wireless charging solution. And eyepatch the iPad smart cover patent sounds good, I have a feeling there are alike many mulish hurdles like battery guard and heat foc exploitation for it to ever become a reality.<< Previous | Next >>View allHead-Mounted Display Google Glass, watch out, Apple's hot on your heels. Maybe. In August, Apple was granted a patent for a head-mounted display clay that would ramble video or information before a user's look onto one or cardinal small displays. This could be built into a helmet, two about of glasses, or level a super-stylish visor. The forked screen natural selection would allow for stereoscopic three-D images. And of course, the placement could be employ for augmented reality applications. instead than the mutual situations like pointing out landmarks or mapping out your front realisticly in front of you, Apple exposit passe-partout uses like overlaying magnetic sonorousness imaging images on top of a patient's torso when they're undergoing surgery. When would we ever empathise this? Like we said before, Apple would be stupid non to flummox into the wearables space at both(prenominal) point in the future. Google Glass, soon in the figure of speech phase, is set to debut some time in 2014. While it's realizable Apple could notice its own headworn iGadget around then, this instructms alike nerdy of a tech partner for Apple to go after anytime soon. Apple's all about mainstream. each a watch, or scarcely beefing up its current devices with naked capabilities, tryms much likely. << Previous | Next >>View allthree-D Gesture Controls baby-sit back, relax and swipe your reach through and through the air to examine the latest editions to your favorite Flipboard magazine. hasten up a question mark in the air to carry through an mesh search. These are two possible centerings Apple could follow up three-D motions to control an iOS device like an iPad. Apple could lose it your moves either using the front facing camera, as the in a higher place patent suggests, or with an integrated projector, as a pause patent filing details. When would we ever see this? three-D motility control systems currently exist, and a number of them, like the bound Motion, actually work pretty darn swell (Proof: Nasa is plane using the take a hop for remotely controlling one of its rovers). So the tech is here, today, and Apple could follow up it in a snap. alone is it practical? With Apple's focalise on tablets in information and the industry, 3-D apparent movements would agnize the iPad a greater utility for those whose detainment w sproutethorn be dirty. Although it makes much sense in a supporting room scenario with the Apple TV, in my opinion, I deliberate Apple could certainly set down some degree of 3-D gesture control to the iPad within the side by side(p) two days. << Previous | Next >>View allAn Integrated Projector Pico projectors set up be recyclable for projecting presentations, photos, or videos on the go a dash onto walls or adjourn flat surfaces. Apple patented a mobile device with an imbed projector in 2011, but other(a) pico projector-iPhone patent applications began rise as early as 2009. With this feature, you'd be able to use advanced 3-D gestures to manipulate what's be projected. When would we ever see this? In 2011, Apple purchased Applepico.com, which sure do it seem like they might be getting into the pico projector area. devil iPhones later, and still no projector. My dilemma here: Is a pico projector to a greater extent gimmicky, or more than(prenominal) useful? I lean towards gimmick. If we don't see a projector implant within the nigh two generations of iPhones, I don't think we'll ever see it. << PreviousView allBiometric Applications found on Apple patent filings, the go with has been dabbling in biometrics for years. A patent granted in 2010 showed how biometrics could be apply for personalizing user accounts rather than security. A more recent filing described exactly how a biometric sensor could be hidden on an area of a mobile device. When would we ever see this? Considering Apple's acquisition of biometric identification fraternity Authentec in 2011, it would seem Apple is definitely invested in implementing biometric engineering science in one way or another in future mobile products. In fact, I'd expect this tech to get utilized as early as iOS 7 and the succeeding(prenominal) iPhone. The iPhone of tomorrow will be shaped like an ovoid, and it will have a wraparound screen and 3-D gesture comprehension so you never again mar its stunning display with your grimy fingerprints. It also will work seamlessly with smartpens, heads-up displays and smartwatches. Well, it will if Apple actually acts on every patent wending its way through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The patent office publishes scores of Apple patent applications each week. It also grants a ton of them, allowing Apple to protect its IP against competitors. Whether it actually uses any of that IP in its products is another matter entirely. Some of the designs and technologies do end up in an Apple store, of course. But a whole heck of a lot disappears into the files, and into the ether. Here's a look at a fistful of Apple patents that have made headlines recently, and a look at whether the tech they describe is something we should expect in the Apple products of our dreams. Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired iDevice With Wraparound Display This conceptual iPhone is hot off the USPTO presses. It features a flexible, wraparound display that could show 3-D content or display images and video in a continuous loop. This iPhone of the future would ditch button-based controls in favor of "virtual controls" — things like holding your finger over the volume button area in order to turn it up or down. You also could use multi-touch gestures along the side to control things like locking and unlocking. Such an iDevice could be crafted of aluminum, aluminum and glass, or be completely transparent (elementary-age Christina gets kind of giddy at the legal opinion of this). When would we ever see this? In an iPhone? Probably never. The design doesn't look particularly ergonomic. However, I could see this used in a future iPod nano, where the side-based controls could be very useful with its smaller size. Based on where we currently are technologically, when the patent was filed (2011), and when the last iPod nano refresh was, I'd estimate that if we ever precept this, it'd be around two years from now. A Wrist-Worn Mobile Device The most popular rumored Apple device of late is the fabled smartwatch, which got a boost in credibleness after a patent filing describing a curious wrist-worn device was published. Apple's version of the smartwatch, per the patent application, would be slap bracelet-like, with a display encompassing its full circumference. The display would be able to work when the device was laid flat, or in a curved state around your wrist. It would be able to legislate with other devices, like your iPhone or iPad, relaying information on your wrist. Presumably, it would also heavily incorporate Siri's talents -- but of course that isn't mentioned in the patent description. When would we ever see this? It would be foolish of Apple not to get into the wearables space. 90 million wearable devices are judge to ship by 2017. It's a huge emerging section of the mobile device space. And a number of factors will make creating such a wearable device more sane to manufacturer in coming years: smaller and smaller chipsets, 3-D printed and flexible components, curved glass applied science. However, there are still technical hurdles, particularly relating to durability, that will need to be overcome before Apple would let something like this buck the mainstream. With that in mind, an Apple iWatch would be two to three years off. Smart Pen Apple was awarded an expanded version of a patent for a smartpen, a pen that acts as a "portable computer," on Tuesday. It would feature a built-in display for sharing e-mails, voice data, and texts. It also would feature a cellular connection and/or GPS chip, as well as accelerometers for handwriting recognition and text-to-speech conversion. Naturally, it also would include a mic and speaker. When would we ever see this? This patent was first filed way back in 1998, and was first granted in September, 2011. Considering Apple's been school term on it this long, we can safely say Apple's left the smartpen biz to third party companies like Livescribe. Wireless Charging Apple is dabbling with wireless charging in a variety of ways. One is through a near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power supply that would juice devices within a certain radius. The power supply could be hidden within the base of an iMac or MacBook and charge everything from your iDevice to wireless mice and keyboards. Another wireless charging idea from Apple is a wireless charging smartcover. The premise is pretty simple: The smart cover would include a battery or some other power source that would allow it to charge your iPad or iPhone inductively. When would we ever see this? While current inductive charging solutions are a bit lacking (having a wired charging keep one's shoulder to the wheel on your desk doesn't make the charging wireless, it just changes where and what wires provide the power), Apple's solutions are more elegant, and perhaps not to a fault far off. Considering we just saw an iMac refresh, for the first solution, 2014 to 2015 would be the earliest I'd expect such an introduce wireless charging solution. And while the iPad smart cover patent sounds good, I have a feeling there are too many practical hurdles like battery galosh and heat management for it to ever become a reality. Head-Mounted Display Google Glass, watch out, Apple's hot on your heels. Maybe. In August, Apple was granted a patent for a head-mounted display system that would project video or information before a user's eyes onto one or two small displays. This could be built into a helmet, fit of glasses, or even a super-stylish visor. The dual screen preference would allow for stereoscopic 3-D images. And of course, the system could be used for augmented reality applications. Rather than the usual situations like pointing out landmarks or mapping out your front virtually in front of you, Apple described professional uses like overlaying magnetic resonance imaging images on top of a patient's body when they're undergoing surgery. When would we ever see this? Like we said before, Apple would be stupid not to get into the wearables space at some point in the future. Google Glass, currently in the prototype phase, is set to debut some time in 2014. While it's possible Apple could reveal its own headworn iGadget around then, this seems too nerdy of a tech accomplice for Apple to go after anytime soon. Apple's all about mainstream. all a watch, or simply beefing up its current devices with bleak capabilities, seems more likely. 3-D Gesture Controls Sit back, relax and swipe your hands through the air to peruse the latest editions to your favorite Flipboard magazine. Draw a question mark in the air to perform an cyberspace search. These are two possible ways Apple could implement 3-D gestures to control an iOS device like an iPad. Apple could dissect your moves either using the front facing camera, as the above patent suggests, or with an integrated projector, as a separate patent filing details. When would we ever see this? 3-D gesture control systems currently exist, and a number of them, like the form Motion, actually work pretty darn well (Proof: Nasa is even using the Leap for remotely controlling one of its rovers). So the tech is here, today, and Apple could implement it in a snap. But is it practical? With Apple's focus on tablets in education and the industry, 3-D gestures would make the iPad a greater utility for those whose hands whitethorn be dirty. Although it makes more sense in a backup room scenario with the Apple TV, in my opinion, I think Apple could certainly bring some degree of 3-D gesture control to the iPad within the bordering two years. An Integrated Projector Pico projectors can be useful for projecting presentations, photos, or videos on the vaporise onto walls or other flat surfaces. Apple patented a mobile device with an infix projector in 2011, but other pico projector-iPhone patent applications began ascend as early as 2009. With this feature, you'd be able to use advanced 3-D gestures to manipulate what's creation projected. When would we ever see this? In 2011, Apple purchased Applepico.com, which sure made it seem like they might be getting into the pico projector area. 2 iPhones later, and still no projector. My dilemma here: Is a pico projector more gimmicky, or more useful? I lean towards gimmick. If we don't see a projector embedded within the next two generations of iPhones, I don't think we'll ever see it. Biometric Applications Based on Apple patent filings, the club has been dabbling in biometrics for years. A patent granted in 2010 showed how biometrics could be used for personalizing user accounts rather than security. A more recent filing described exactly how a biometric sensor could be hidden on an area of a mobile device. When would we ever see this? Considering Apple's acquisition of biometric identification phoner Authentec in 2011, it would seem Apple is definitely invested in implementing biometric engineering science in one way or another in future mobile products. In fact, I'd expect this tech to get utilized as early as iOS 7 and the next iPhone.
The iPhone of tomorrow will be shaped like an ovoid, and it will have a wraparound screen and 3-D gesture recognition so you never again mar its stunning display with your grimy fingerprints. It also will work seamlessly with smartpens, heads-up displays and smartwatches.
Well, it will if Apple actually acts on every patent wending its way through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The patent office publishes rafts of Apple patent applications each week. It also grants a ton of them, allowing Apple to protect its IP against competitors. Whether it actually uses any of that IP in its products is another matter entirely.
Some of the designs and technologies do end up in an Apple store, of course. But a whole heck of a lot disappears into the files, and into the ether. Here's a look at a handful of Apple patents that have made headlines recently, and a look at whether the tech they describe is something we should expect in the Apple products of our dreams.
Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired
iDevice With Wraparound Display
This conceptual iPhone is hot off the USPTO presses. It features a flexible, wraparound display that could show 3-D content or display images and video in a continuous loop.
This iPhone of the future would ditch button-based controls in favor of "virtual controls" — things like holding your finger over the volume button area in order to turn it up or down. You also could use multi-touch gestures along the side to control things like locking and unlocking. Such an iDevice could be crafted of aluminum, aluminum and glass, or be completely transparent (elementary-age Christina gets kind of giddy at the thought of this).
When would we ever see this? In an iPhone? Probably never. The design doesn't look particularly ergonomic. However, I could see this used in a future iPod nano, where the side-based controls could be very useful with its smaller size. Based on where we currently are technologically, when the patent was filed (2011), and when the last iPod nano refresh was, I'd estimate that if we ever saw this, it'd be around two years from now.
A Wrist-Worn Mobile Device
The most popular rumored Apple device of late is the fabled smartwatch, which got a boost in credibleness after a patent filing describing a laughable wrist-worn device was published.
Apple's version of the smartwatch, per the patent application, would be slap bracelet-like, with a display encompassing its full circumference. The display would be able to work when the device was laid flat, or in a curved state around your wrist. It would be able to proclaim with other devices, like your iPhone or iPad, relaying information on your wrist. Presumably, it would also heavily incorporate Siri's talents -- but of course that isn't mentioned in the patent description.
When would we ever see this? It would be foolish of Apple not to get into the wearables space. 90 million wearable devices are pass judgment to ship by 2017. It's a huge emerging element of the mobile device space. And a number of factors will make creating such a wearable device more presumable to manufacturer in coming years: smaller and smaller chipsets, 3-D printed and flexible components, curved glass technology. However, there are still technical hurdles, particularly relating to durability, that will need to be overcome before Apple would let something like this knock the mainstream. With that in mind, an Apple iWatch would be two to three years off.
Smart Pen
Apple was awarded an expanded version of a patent for a smartpen, a pen that acts as a "portable computer," on Tuesday.
It would feature a built-in display for sharing e-mails, voice data, and texts. It also would feature a cellular connection and/or GPS chip, as well as accelerometers for handwriting recognition and text-to-speech conversion. Naturally, it also would include a mic and speaker.
When would we ever see this? This patent was first filed way back in 1998, and was first granted in September, 2011. Considering Apple's been sitting on it this long, we can safely say Apple's left the smartpen biz to third party companies like Livescribe.
Wireless Charging
Apple is dabbling with wireless charging in a variety of ways. One is through a near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power supply that would juice devices within a certain radius. The power supply could be hidden within the base of an iMac or MacBook and charge everything from your iDevice to wireless mice and keyboards.
Another wireless charging idea from Apple is a wireless charging smartcover. The premise is pretty simple: The smart cover would include a battery or some other power source that would allow it to charge your iPad or iPhone inductively.
When would we ever see this? While current inductive charging solutions are a bit lacking (having a wired charging pad on your desk doesn't make the charging wireless, it just changes where and what wires provide the power), Apple's solutions are more elegant, and perhaps not too far off. Considering we just saw an iMac refresh, for the first solution, 2014 to 2015 would be the earliest I'd expect such an embedded wireless charging solution. And while the iPad smart cover patent sounds good, I have a feeling there are too many practical hurdles like battery synthetic rubber and heat management for it to ever become a reality.
Head-Mounted Display
Google Glass, watch out, Apple's hot on your heels. Maybe.
In August, Apple was granted a patent for a head-mounted display system that would project video or information before a user's eyes onto one or two small displays. This could be built into a helmet, pair of glasses, or even a super-stylish visor.
The dual screen option would allow for stereoscopic 3-D images. And of course, the system could be used for augmented reality applications. Rather than the usual situations like pointing out landmarks or mapping out your front virtually in front of you, Apple described professional uses like overlaying MRI images on top of a patient's body when they're undergoing surgery.
When would we ever see this? Like we said before, Apple would be stupid not to get into the wearables space at some point in the future. Google Glass, currently in the prototype phase, is set to debut some time in 2014. While it's possible Apple could reveal its own headworn iGadget around then, this seems too nerdy of a tech accessory for Apple to go after anytime soon. Apple's all about mainstream. Either a watch, or simply beefing up its current devices with new capabilities, seems more likely.
3-D Gesture Controls
Sit back, relax and swipe your hands through the air to peruse the latest editions to your favorite Flipboard magazine. Draw a question mark in the air to perform an internet search.
These are two possible ways Apple could implement 3-D gestures to control an iOS device like an iPad. Apple could analyze your moves either using the front facing camera, as the above patent suggests, or with an integrated projector, as a separate patent filing details.
When would we ever see this? 3-D gesture control systems currently exist, and a number of them, like the Leap Motion, actually work pretty darn well (Proof: Nasa is even using the Leap for remotely controlling one of its rovers). So the tech is here, today, and Apple could implement it in a snap. But is it practical? With Apple's focus on tablets in education and the industry, 3-D gestures would make the iPad a greater utility for those whose hands may be dirty. Although it makes more sense in a living room scenario with the Apple TV, in my opinion, I think Apple could certainly bring some degree of 3-D gesture control to the iPad within the next two years.
An Integrated Projector
Pico projectors can be useful for projecting presentations, photos, or videos on the fly onto walls or other flat surfaces. Apple patented a mobile device with an embedded projector in 2011, but other pico projector-iPhone patent applications began surfacing as early as 2009.
With this feature, you'd be able to use advanced 3-D gestures to manipulate what's being projected.
When would we ever see this? In 2011, Apple purchased Applepico.com, which sure made it seem like they might be getting into the pico projector area. Two iPhones later, and still no projector. My dilemma here: Is a pico projector more gimmicky, or more useful? I lean towards gimmick. If we don't see a projector embedded within the next two generations of iPhones, I don't think we'll ever see it.
Biometric Applications
Based on Apple patent filings, the caller has been dabbling in biometrics for years.
A patent granted in 2010 showed how biometrics could be used for personalizing user accounts rather than security. A more recent filing described exactly how a biometric sensor could be hidden on an area of a mobile device.
When would we ever see this? Considering Apple's acquisition of biometric identification familiarity Authentec in 2011, it would seem Apple is definitely invested in implementing biometric technology in one way or another in future mobile products. In fact, I'd expect this tech to get utilized as early as iOS 7 and the next iPhone.
The iPhone of tomorrow will be shaped like an ovoid, and it will have a wraparound screen and 3-D gesture recognition so you never again mar its stunning display with your grimy fingerprints. It also will work seamlessly with smartpens, heads-up displays and smartwatches.
Well, it will if Apple actually acts on every patent wending its way through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
The patent office publishes oodles of Apple patent applications each week. It also grants a ton of them, allowing Apple to protect its IP against competitors. Whether it actually uses any of that IP in its products is another matter entirely.
Some of the designs and technologies do end up in an Apple store, of course. But a whole heck of a lot disappears into the files, and into the ether. Here's a look at a handful of Apple patents that have made headlines recently, and a look at whether the tech they describe is something we should expect in the Apple products of our dreams.
Photo: Ariel Zambelich/Wired
iDevice With Wraparound Display
This conceptual iPhone is hot off the USPTO presses. It features a flexible, wraparound display that could show 3-D content or display images and video in a continuous loop.
This iPhone of the future would ditch button-based controls in favor of "virtual controls" — things like holding your finger over the volume button area in order to turn it up or down. You also could use multi-touch gestures along the side to control things like locking and unlocking. Such an iDevice could be crafted of aluminum, aluminum and glass, or be completely transparent (elementary-age Christina gets kind of giddy at the thought of this).
When would we ever see this? In an iPhone? Probably never. The design doesn't look particularly ergonomic. However, I could see this used in a future iPod nano, where the side-based controls could be very useful with its smaller size. Based on where we currently are technologically, when the patent was filed (2011), and when the last iPod nano refresh was, I'd estimate that if we ever saw this, it'd be around two years from now.
A Wrist-Worn Mobile Device
The most popular rumored Apple device of late is the fabled smartwatch, which got a boost in credibleness after a patent filing describing a unmatched wrist-worn device was published.
Apple's version of the smartwatch, per the patent application, would be slap bracelet-like, with a display encompassing its full circumference. The display would be able to work when the device was laid flat, or in a curved state around your wrist. It would be able to communicate with other devices, like your iPhone or iPad, relaying information on your wrist. Presumably, it would also heavily incorporate Siri's talents -- but of course that isn't mentioned in the patent description.
When would we ever see this? It would be foolish of Apple not to get into the wearables space. 90 million wearable devices are pass judgment to ship by 2017. It's a huge emerging fraction of the mobile device space. And a number of factors will make creating such a wearable device more conceivable to manufacturer in coming years: smaller and smaller chipsets, 3-D printed and flexible components, curved glass technology. However, there are still technical hurdles, particularly relating to durability, that will need to be overcome before Apple would let something like this hit the mainstream. With that in mind, an Apple iWatch would be two to three years off.
Smart Pen
Apple was awarded an expanded version of a patent for a smartpen, a pen that acts as a "portable computer," on Tuesday.
It would feature a built-in display for sharing e-mails, voice data, and texts. It also would feature a cellular connection and/or GPS chip, as well as accelerometers for handwriting recognition and text-to-speech conversion. Naturally, it also would include a mic and speaker.
When would we ever see this? This patent was first filed way back in 1998, and was first granted in September, 2011. Considering Apple's been sitting on it this long, we can safely say Apple's left the smartpen biz to third party companies like Livescribe.
Wireless Charging
Apple is dabbling with wireless charging in a variety of ways. One is through a near-field magnetic resonance (NFMR) power supply that would juice devices within a certain radius. The power supply could be hidden within the base of an iMac or MacBook and charge everything from your iDevice to wireless mice and keyboards.
Another wireless charging idea from Apple is a wireless charging smartcover. The premise is pretty simple: The smart cover would include a battery or some other power source that would allow it to charge your iPad or iPhone inductively.
When would we ever see this? While current inductive charging solutions are a bit lacking (having a wired charging pad on your desk doesn't make the charging wireless, it just changes where and what wires provide the power), Apple's solutions are more elegant, and perhaps not too far off. Considering we just saw an iMac refresh, for the first solution, 2014 to 2015 would be the earliest I'd expect such an embedded wireless charging solution. And while the iPad smart cover patent sounds good, I have a feeling there are too many practical hurdles like battery safety and heat management for it to ever become a reality.
Head-Mounted Display
Google Glass, watch out, Apple's hot on your heels. Maybe.
In August, Apple was granted a patent for a head-mounted display system that would project video or information before a user's eyes onto one or two small displays. This could be built into a helmet, pair of glasses, or even a super-stylish visor.
The dual screen option would allow for stereoscopic 3-D images. And of course, the system could be used for augmented reality applications. Rather than the usual situations like pointing out landmarks or mapping out your front virtually in front of you, Apple described professional uses like overlaying MRI images on top of a patient's body when they're undergoing surgery.
When would we ever see this? Like we said before, Apple would be stupid not to get into the wearables space at some point in the future. Google Glass, currently in the prototype phase, is set to debut some time in 2014. While it's possible Apple could reveal its own headworn iGadget around then, this seems too nerdy of a tech accessory for Apple to go after anytime soon. Apple's all about mainstream. Either a watch, or simply beefing up its current devices with new capabilities, seems more likely.
3-D Gesture Controls
Sit back, relax and swipe your hands through the air to peruse the latest editions to your favorite Flipboard magazine. Draw a question mark in the air to perform an internet search.
These are two possible ways Apple could implement 3-D gestures to control an iOS device like an iPad. Apple could analyze your moves either using the front facing camera, as the above patent suggests, or with an integrated projector, as a separate patent filing details.
When would we ever see this? 3-D gesture control systems currently exist, and a number of them, like the Leap Motion, actually work pretty darn well (Proof: Nasa is even using the Leap for remotely controlling one of its rovers). So the tech is here, today, and Apple could implement it in a snap. But is it practical? With Apple's focus on tablets in education and the industry, 3-D gestures would make the iPad a greater utility for those whose hands may be dirty. Although it makes more sense in a living room scenario with the Apple TV, in my opinion, I think Apple could certainly bring some degree of 3-D gesture control to the iPad within the next two years.
An Integrated Projector
Pico projectors can be useful for projecting presentations, photos, or videos on the fly onto walls or other flat surfaces. Apple patented a mobile device with an embedded projector in 2011, but other pico projector-iPhone patent applications began surfacing as early as 2009.
With this feature, you'd be able to use advanced 3-D gestures to manipulate what's being projected.
When would we ever see this? In 2011, Apple purchased Applepico.com, which sure made it seem like they might be getting into the pico projector area. Two iPhones later, and still no projector. My dilemma here: Is a pico projector more gimmicky, or more useful? I lean towards gimmick. If we don't see a projector embedded within the next two generations of iPhones, I don't think we'll ever see it.
Biometric Applications
Based on Apple patent filings, the company has been dabbling in biometrics for years.
A patent granted in 2010 showed how biometrics could be used for personalizing user accounts rather than security. A more recent filing described exactly how a biometric sensor could be hidden on an area of a mobile device.
When would we ever see this? Considering Apple's acquisition of biometric identification company Authentec in 2011, it would seem Apple is definitely invested in implementing biometric technology in one way or another in future mobile products. In fact, I'd expect this tech to get utilized as early as iOS 7 and the next iPhone.
Materials taken from WIRED
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