Apple Multitouch Input Revealed in New Patent Appleโ€ s Tablet Almost Officially Confirmed?

We still have a long way to go until we ll be able to see with our own
eyes Steve Job s current main product. The much rumored Apple tablet is
probably going to be available at some point in January 2010 but so far
we don t have any official statement from Cupertino. What we do have is
a new patent which reveals the way a multitouch surface would respond to
two-hand gestures. Said patent almost confirms the tablet so let s see
what Apple s next hot product will be able to do from the multitouch
point of view, of course!

The patent has been filed in June 2009 and the documentation reveals an
�unprecedented integration of typing, resting, pointing, scrolling, 3D
manipulation and handwriting into a versatile, ergonomic computer input
device. � Furthermore, the patent basically says that touch-sensitive
technology will let the user become even more efficient at work.
Multitouch could be the final addition to our already vast array of
tools (stylus, mouse, keyboard or voice) much needed to control a
computer. Well I did say that it almost confirms the tablet, didn t I?

So how will the tablet actually work? Well it looks like the surface
will be able to detect not only our hands, but our fingers too. That
means the machine will be able to differentiate between our intentions.
Whether we want to type, write, draw, or rest our hands on the
touchscreen, the computer will know how to answer.
Apple s patent says that the multitouch interface will be able to
interpret the signals from your fingers and palms to determine what you
re going to do. Actions will be triggered only at certain times as the
UI would know when not to react to your movements. We have barely
scratched the surface here but I can only say that I m already waiting
to see Apple s tablet in action.

Responsible for the application is Wayne Weterman of Fingerworks an
Apple-owned company which also works on the development of the iPhone.
I only tell you this because I can t but wonder who is implementing
multitouch support in Microsoft s tablet the Courier. As you can see,
the user interface of a tablet PC will turn out to be a key features for
some professionals that need a tablet in their lives. Good looks and
cool specs will simply not suffice if the tablet won t be able to
comfortably suit most of our needs!