How do you are making an iMac desktop that doubles as a multitouch tablet? While you’re Apple: similar to this. Why can’t the longer term be now already?
The patent above, unearthed by Patently Apple , shows off Apple’s plans to collect its desktop and tablet lines. Which explains how Mac OS X and iOS might actually live in harmony someday.
Here’s how it’ll work: sensors would indicate whether the display was oriented vertically for desktop mode, then would automagically go into tablet mode when brought horizontal:
For example, an accelerometer inside the display could sense the force of gravity along an axis, and the measured force may well be used to decide an angle of the display with respect to the ground (i.e. the plane perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity). A transition between input modes may well be performed when the vertical angle (tilt) of the display crosses a predetermined angle.
In another example, a rotation sensor is likely to be mounted in an adjustable stand of the display. The rotation sensor could measure a rotation position of the stand, corresponding to an angle between the base of the stand and a hinged arm that connects the base and the display. The measured rotation position may well be used to establish the orientation of the display.
Or a little sensor could possibly be implemented to decide how the display is being grasped. The patent covers both desktop and notebook devices.
As with all patents, who knows whether this is often technology so as to actually come to light or if Apple just filed it defensively to offer protection to their IP. What we will so evidently is that there’s a totally definite want for this-from me, not less than!-and unless Mac OS X eventually disappears, it’s easy methods to bring Apple’s two operating systems together in harmony. [ Patently Apple ]
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