Apple was today awarded a pair of new patents for an advanced mapping system with customizable and shareable image data, and a new haptic vibrations system that turns audio data into haptic vibrations for the hearing impaired.
Published by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office this week, a new patent entitled “Customizing destination images while reaching towards a desired task,” details a future mapping platform that could allow users to share personalized routing information with images, video, audio, and more.
“Apple argues that current turn-by-turn navigation systems lack tools by which users can easily recognize a destination location, especially if they are first time visitors, as navigation imagery provided by third-party mapping services might be inadequate,” explains AppleInsider.Apple’s system would allow users to provide additional images, videos, and even audio commentary that would assist others while they are navigating. This information would automatically be pushed down to the second user’s Maps app.
Apple also outlines various ways in which associated media captured by an iPhone can be associated with real world locations using things like GPS coordinates, text tags, and points of interest.
Apple’s second patent, entitled “Converting audio to haptic feedback in an electronic device,” details a system that can convert audio data into haptic feedback for the hearing impaired — particularly those who are partially deaf to certain frequency ranges.
“Apple’s invention parses an audio signal into high and low frequencies, converts one portion of the range into haptic data, shifts a second portion to a different frequency range and replays both to the user,” explains AppleInsider.
Another embodiment allows for real-time audio processing using an iPhone’s microphone. Users would be able to setup listening preferences which would automatically convert certain frequencies into haptic vibrations. The system could even detect things like fire alarms, car horns, screams, and ringing telephones and alert users to them with vibration patterns.
Apple notes that this isn’t just for the hearing impaired — anyone could use it — but these users will certainly benefit from it most.
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