Apple Tinkering with Safe Texting Technology

Apple Tinkering with Safe Texting Technology

Published on 03-27-2014 10:48 AM

Based on details gleaned from a recent patent application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple is working on a new "transparent texting" technology that could conceivably enable safer on-the-go texting.

The patent description refers to "transparent texting" as the means by which an electronic communication device's camera can "continuously capture and present video images as a background within a text messaging session currently being displayed by the device."

Reading that summary, it's easy to picture an augmented reality-type texting mechanism that lets users safely walk and text, for example, while never taking their eyes off of what's in front of each step.

The camera can be a rear-facing camera on the device, so that the video images represent the views that the device's user would see if the device's display were transparent. The camera can continuously capture and present the video images as the background in the text messaging session, so that the device's user continuously can be aware of the environment beyond the device's display while still focusing on the text messages being communicated.

With the stated goal of helping users avoid "stumbling over an object while participating in a text messaging session," it seems like a practical and convenient resource that could prevent more than a few minor - or major - missteps.

But as with all Apple patent filings, it's difficult - okay, impossible - to predict which technologies tinkered with will actually make their way to iOS devices or remain on the drawing board forever.

Source: (USPTO via Apple Insider)

_{This article was originally published in forum thread: Apple Tinkering with Safe Texting Technology started by Michael Essany View original post}

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