Apple patent filing details double-sided iPod

Posted on 11 May 2007 at 10:20

Documents coming to light at the US Patent Office show details of a possible forthcoming iPod-like device from Apple that uses touch-sensitive surfaces on both sides to control a cursor and work the embedded operating system.

The filing indicates that the technology could be applied to a mobile telephone, a hand-held computer system, a PDA, a video display unit or a digital music device. It then goes on to specifically name the video iPod, on which it says the 'liquid crystal display ("LCD"), is often to [sic] small to make effective use of finger based touch input'.

It explains in detail how a device fitted with this touch sensitive technology would work. 'A multi-media device in accordance with the invention uses separate device surfaces for input and output,' says the filing. 'More specifically, a force-sensitive touch-surface is provided on a first or back-side surface of the device through which a user provides input (e.g., cursor manipulation and control element selection/activation). On a second or front-side surface, a display element is used to present one or more control elements and a cursor that is controlled through manipulation of the back-side touch-surface. When the device is activated or placed into an operational state where it is appropriate, control elements (e.g., soft keys and menus) are displayed on the display element.

"The soft keys may be opaque or transparent (so as not to occlude prior displayed information such as a video presentation, a picture, a graphic or textual information). The displayed cursor identifies where on the back-side touch-surface the user has their finger. When the cursor is positioned over the desired control element/soft key... the user selects or activates the control element by applying pressure to the force-sensitive touch-surface with their finger. Accordingly, the invention provides a means to operate a hand-held electronic device with one hand, wherein cursor movement and control element selection/activation may be accomplished without lifting one's finger.'

The visual interface on the device retains the iPod's now ubiquitous click-wheel, but rather than being a hardware-based physical device, it is rendered as a semi-transparent graphic, which would overlay information displayed on the screen.

Being an unannounced invention, it could well be that this device will never make it into production, nor the underlying technology be implemented in any future Apple product, but it does give an interesting insight into Apple's thinking on future interface control and design.

Author: Nik Rawlinson