Patent Watch: Apple iGloves for Toasty iPhone Tapping
What makes capacitive touch displays so responsive is what makes them so unfriendly to hostile environments: they need skin-to-screen contact. Well, technically, they need the electric field around skin, and yet another Apple patent makes it seem like the iPhone team is figuring out a way for us to stay warm and still enjoy the multi-touch lifestyle. Says Apple Insider:
Apple’s solution would give gloves a second, inner layer beyond the surface that would simulate the electrical feedback of human fingers when exposed to the outside. Apertures at each fingertip would let users peel back the outer, more weatherproof layer to leave a finger protected only by the inner layer but capable of using touchscreen devices with roughly the same responsiveness as bare skin.
It’s freezing cold outside as I write this. Face hurting, lung searing, -17c, colder with the wind-chill coldy cold cold outside. So cold, in fact, that the thought of pulling off a downy mitten to “swipe my iPhone” has me cursing at the mere thought of a call. So, add a steaming mug of hot cocoa (the beverage, not the programming language!) and I’m sold. How about you, any other frozen iPhone users want to get your iGloves on?
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:29 pm
This already exists
http://www.dotsgloves.com/
January 2nd, 2009 at 3:31 pm
@parth Thanks for that link, lol. Apples version will probably be double that price. I always hated answering calls outside in the cold
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Dots gloves did look good and I tried to get some in time for winter. Unfortunately, they never arrived as they were out of stock and I’m still waiting for them to actually have some in stock. Shame really, as they looked really good.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
The Dots Gloves look good for “moderately” cold weather but not for extreme temperatures. Would Apple’s be thicker and warmer because of the outer layer that’s peeled back?
I guess one could just wear thicker gloves over the Dots Gloves when not using the iPhone. Works for me.
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:28 pm
what makes the touch technology of iphone superior to the other ones that do not require static electricity?
January 2nd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
In a case like I would use my lip to open the iPhone ,cheaper.
January 3rd, 2009 at 6:45 am
@John Effortless useability. Swiping up or down is seemless. It’s one of the big reasons the iPhone’s UI is praised.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:04 pm
NorthFace also sells them. I got mine for $40 and it saved my right hand from freezing while I fiddle with my phone.
January 29th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
DO NOT ORDER DOTS GLOVES (dotsgloves.com) I ordering in November, they took my $$$ from PAYPAL and still–as of end of January–have not received them. Every email and phone message has gone unanswered.