“Today’s patent reveals yet another innovative concept that is designed to help users control their incoming calls and voicemail by simply swiping their finger over the external camera lens,” Purcher reports. “It will control rewinding and fast forwarding voicemail. In addition, the new methodology will also enhance one handed navigation of web pages, documents, a contact list or your iTunes library by simply swiping the camera lens in different swiping motion combinations.”
Purcher reports, “In the future, the iPad may be able to take advantage of this feature if the camera is positioned correctly. This would theoretically allow a user to simply flick a finger over the camera lens to turn the page of a book or scroll a webpage without ever having to move your hand. This is an excellent idea on several fronts that will have Apple’s competition on the run, again.”
Much more, including patent app illustrations, in the full article here.
Is this patentable? Not that it matters. It will be copied regardless.
Neat idea but doesn’t feel very comfortable when the phone is held in your right hand. The camera is too far away from your index finger. Left-handed feels fine, though.
This idea of Apple’s is brilliant. I can’t see why it wasn’t done before actually. The only objection is the finger grease accumulation that would occur on the lens. This would require an oleophobic coating which might reduce image quality.
Think over the lens, not on it.
I had the vague impression that MSFT had a patent that used hand gestures recognized by a camera.
Okay, I just looked at the patent and it’s different than what MSFT was doing. I think theirs was more along the lines of the BAT.
Time to start designing mechanical remote controls for the iPhone.
Stupid idea. It would almost always be triggered accidentally.