Maylin
New innovations from Apple are not an out of the way happening any more. It has come to be expected of Apple. The latest in the line of innovations, recently released patents reveal, is a 3D remote control system for its Apple TV set-top box on the lines of the Nintendo Wii controller with many features including multi-touch technology.
“The present invention can include multi-dimensional (e.g., 2-D or 3-D) remote control systems that can detect an absolute location to which a remote control is pointing in first and second orthogonal axes (e.g., the x- and y-axes). Remote control systems of the present invention also can detect the absolute position of the remote control in a third orthogonal axis (e.g., the z-axis). “
The 3D remote can also be used to zoom in and out of photos based on user moments and manipulate objects as well on the screen. The patent application describes use of fixed light sources in addition to accelerometers as in the Nintendo Wii Control ensemble. Gaming had taken a whole new turnover in image and sales with the Nintendo Wii catching the imagination and capturing the pockets of the youngsters. Apple’s version however it seems is limited to the AppleTV.
Of course, patents do not reflect products. However, ‘remote controls’ as one of the technologies listed among those that Apple is making has figured in recent job descriptions. The magic is in making Patents into products. One cannot wait to watch what happens now. Time for some innovation - Apple style
May 10, 2008
Those remotes sound very interesting. I wonder what they would be like when they do come out. I love the wii remotes…so I wonder how good these would be. The one thing I don’t like is that they would be good for only the appletv.
May 11, 2008
Those remotes look promising. The only problem is that since this is just a new release then we should expect that fewer games can support this new controller. I think that it would be wise if we should wait for a few months so that more games are available for it.
I wonder what game is already available for that controller.
May 21, 2008
Apple is certainly making the jump towards this “Touch” thing. Apple is going to pave the way for future way of User to Device interaction.
This new remote will mostly be launched with a newer iteration of the Apple TV. Hope next months WDC brings in some new information about this Remote as well as Apples Tablet PC.
May 24, 2008
Wow, more inspiration. Apple just doesn’t seem to be running out of ideas. It seems as if the people running it are coming up with something new to do every week. They are starting on so many projects it is hard to imagine where they will be in a few years time.
June 28, 2008
Quite interesting to see the comparison of the wiimotes and the apple remote, Apple has always had a good sense of design and maybe in this case its just getting better. And yeah, apple does love touch phenomenon.