Apple patent hints at gaming aspirations
New iPod control scheme spied?
AppleInsider today point to a new filing by Apple, which suggests the firm is working on a 'multitasking' interface, allowing Ipod or iPhone devices to be used to play games, while at the same time allowing for control of another device function, such as a music player. Both functions would be controlled via the touch-screen, simultaneously, the patent suggests.
The patent filing, which stretches to some 29 pages, covers a new technique "for interactive input to portable electronic devices".
"One aspect of the invention provides a game input area (surface or plane) that can receive input for multiple applications including an interactive application executed in connection with a scene displayed on a display," reads the filing. "Input is directed to the appropriate application based on one or more locations (e.g., points, positions, regions, portions) of the input area effectively identified when input is received (e.g., when input is entered by a person by touching a particular position on a touch screen)."
One example of the new input tech mentioned is gaming, Apple explaining:
"More particularly, the input area for a gaming application can effectively overlap or include a number of locations that are designated for a non-gaming application (e.g., a media playback application) and/or designated as such only if input is received in a particular manner (e.g., pushing or pressing of any location, or a particular designated location, would result in sending the input to non-gaming application)," the filing adds. "As such, a location on the input area can be designated, for example, for a gaming application if input is received in a particular manner different than that designated for the non-gaming application (e.g., tapping or touching the region would send input to a gaming application, but pressing would result in a media player function)."
More details on the tech-heavy filing can be found via the AppleInsider article, which includes some genuinely terrifying technical diagrams. In the meantime, we'll keep our eyes peeled for more news on Apple's gaming aspirations.
