“Apple Computer has been experimenting with display actuators for electronics devices that would serve to both display visual information and act as a mechanical input, therefore reducing the space needed to implement both components on devices such as media players,” Slash Lane reports for AppleInsider.

Lane reports, “In a series of patent requests filed overseas and published on Wednesday, the iPod maker said such a device could display visual information like text, characters and graphics, but also act as a clickable button, sliding toggle, rotating dial or a motion controlling device such as a joystick.”

Full article with patent application illustrations here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader "LinuxGuy and Mac Prodigal Son" for the heads up.]