Apple could be set to release an iPod with support for multi-touch gestures through its click-wheel, according to recent patent filing discovered by AppleInsider.
The filing details methods for detecting "input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input."
Essentially the Click Wheel would become a "multi-dimensional scroll wheel" that "can sense a moving object, such as a finger, as it is moved not only in a rotational manner but also in a linear manner across the center of the scroll wheel."
"For example, linear motion, such as a swipe across the scroll wheel, can enable an image browsing application to cause images, such as album cover pictures for example, to be transitioned across a screen."
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The filing details methods for detecting "input gestures that traverse the center of the scroll wheel and to detect multi-touch input."
Essentially the Click Wheel would become a "multi-dimensional scroll wheel" that "can sense a moving object, such as a finger, as it is moved not only in a rotational manner but also in a linear manner across the center of the scroll wheel."
"For example, linear motion, such as a swipe across the scroll wheel, can enable an image browsing application to cause images, such as album cover pictures for example, to be transitioned across a screen."
Read More