A new patent filing from Apple details a handwriting recognition and input method that the company seems to be developing for enterprise users and students.
Titled “Continuous Handwriting UI,” the patent details Apple’s invention of coming up with a dedicated writing area in iOS, where users can write without needing to break their flow because of other UI elements coming in between. The new handwriting recognition system is also smart enough to automatically remove pieces of written text as it recognizes them or keeps partially fading them while the user continues to write. The text is only cleared based on subsequent user inputs. Like, a character might partially fade only after the user has written three more letters following it, or when the user has written to a certain predefined point.
Other scenarios in the patent filing show on-screen keys for deleting handwritten characters, redo/undo, and more. Apple also suggests in the patent that a finger or stylus can be used to write text on the screen. Apple had first filed for this patent in September 2014.It has long been rumored that the 12.9-inch iPad Pro will come with a new kind of handwriting recognition technology and a basic stylus for easier input. The device was initially rumored to be released earlier this year, but yield issues forced Apple to postpone the launch of the tablet to the second half of this year.
Another patent filing from Apple on Thursday describes a new earphone design that come with built-in magnets to make them more manageable for carrying around. Plus, the earphones will come with touch sensors that will automatically switch off music playback on the device they are connected to, once the buds come in contact with each other.
Apple proposes an asymmetrical design in which left and right earbuds have opposite magnetic assembly polarities, causing them to attract. In order to achieve the same acoustic effect from an electric audio signal, each bud needs to react to an audio signal in the same way, meaning a few internal changes are required.
There is little denying that tangled earphones is a problem that everyone faces in their day-to-day life and Apple’s latest invention aims to solve that problem. One can only hope that Apple’s newest invention makes its way to consumers sooner than later.
[Via AppleInsider]
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