“Patent requests from Apple continue to provide clues as to where the company may take its iPhone interface in the coming years, such as a new filing which depicts a version of the handset with a front-facing video camera and a software interface capable of adjusting itself for more precise interaction when the user carrying the phone is in motion,” Sam Oliver reports for AppleInsider.

“While the former discovery hints towards the inevitable adoption of video conference capabilities by the iPhone in the coming years, the adaptive software interface concept could materialize much sooner, improving a user’s accuracy in making touch selections by increasing the size of user interface elements on the touch-screen when it’s determined that the user is operating the device while jogging or participation in some other kind of motion-based activity,” Oliver reports.

“For example, Apple notes that some users may use their iPod touch of iPhone while out for a run or hustling between business meetings. At these times, it may be desirable to simultaneously place a call by making a selection from the contact list or change to a different music track by making a selection in an album list. However, these simple tasks can be slightly more challenging on the go than when stationary because they require the user to divert their attention from their primary activity to make an accurate selection on what could be a sweat-slicked or jittering dislay,” Oliver reports.

“To solve this problem, the Cupertino-based company proposes an updated version of iPhone software that can detect when the device is in motion and then compare the detected degree of motion to one or more predetermined ‘signatures of motion,’” Oliver reports.

Full article here.