Apple Applies for New Multitouch Patent
A recent patent application filed in LA has kicked the Apple tablet rumor mill into overdrive.
We've already had two stories about Apple's tablet this week. One about the company bringing back one of the lead developers on its Newton platform (possible to take charge of marketing the new tablet), and one regarding a deal between Apple, newspapers and text book publishers.
Today there's a slightly more interesting rumor doing the rounds and this one is based on a patent application filed by Apple in June of this year. AppleInsider reports that a filing by Morrison and Foerster LLP on behalf of Apple describes a 'a hand-based system that would allow "unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D manipulation, and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input device."'
Now, companies file patents all the time and sometimes, they just sit there and do nothing forever and ever. However, with all the tablet rumors we've had over the last year (does it feel WAY longer to anyone else?), it's hard to believe Apple would try to patent something that individually detects each finger and both palms, allowing for touchscreen capabilities unlike any other.
AppleInsider goes on to cite the patent filing which gives examples of the touchscreen capabilities. These include resting of hands, measuring when a hand or fingers touches and leaves the surface, interpreting taps from one finger as mouse button clicks, but disregarding a tap from two fingers, and more.
While most Apple tablet rumors have become quite boring (an ereader, really?), this one actually makes me sit up and wonder what the company could have up its sleeve.

No no no, you don't patent all the things you make with a 2x4, you wait for someone to make something, then you sue them claiming it was covered under your original "organic geometric construction device" patent.
well here is the big and most important problem with apple they dont share even if you want to pay them. thus you get the big kid in the sandbox problem. also it is indicative of them wanting to run the world. and if i might add FIGHT THE POWER.
Specially since its Apple that have it is why im worried about actually..
Very cool.
The patent system for the tech world would work better if it only gave 1.5 year exclusivity. Why shouldn't Apple be rewarded for developing it first? But anymore than 1.5 years is an eternity in the techworld. 9 years is crazy.
The 2x4 comparison leads nowhere as a 2x4 is not a "new and novel invention" (and never was), and because existing touch software is not simply "multipled", as an earlier poster described it - that is, multitouch functionality is not simply 10 or 12 instances of a single-touch implementation (and, even if it were, the end result is the patentable object, not the implementation).
(As an aside re: wildwell's comment, as everyone else knows Xerox was compensated for and assisted with Apple's efforts.)
We just got a Motorola M35C EDA at work. One option is a keyboard on the tiny lcd screen. Have to use a stylus because the darn keyboard is so small.
I hope the patent gets rejected...This type of patent only screws everyone up with vague wording, as the above quote could be applied to pretty much any touchscreen interface that exists already!