RSS FeedApple develops transparent trackpad patent for iPhone
Posted March 18th, 2008 by JasonFiled Under: iPhone
Apple is developing new track pad design that could allow production of smaller iPhones with all the controls. This new style is called “dual sided track pad” and has a translucent cover with a capacitive, multi-touch track pad that accepts input on either side and can activate controls depending on the pad’s position. The pad can be attached to a small handheld device through a hinge and switch its functionality depending on whether it was open or closed: while a closed track pad would simply serve as a substitute for the main touchscreen, an open position could provide a separate pad for dialing numbers or an interface for gestures and scrolling. This touchscreen could have its own basic display for these features. There is also second version of patent that also can apply to computers and would have the dual track pad replace the conventional, opaque surface on a notebook such as the MacBook Air.
