Apple has received patents for advanced haptic technology on the iPad and bone conduction improvements on the AirPods.
Apple has been paradoxically both an innovator and a late adaptor in recent years. It is the former because it introduces only ultra-polished features before they release a product. However, it is also the latter because it waits for new technology to mature before they install such a feature on their devices.
An example of this paradox is Apple’s late adaption of 5G. Samsung already had the feature on its phones in 2019, but Apple played the waiting game and will only release its first 5G phone this October. Nonetheless, Apple’s strategy always seems to pay off. Moving forward, they even have more innovations in the pipeline.
Apple patents extreme haptic feedback
PatentlyApple picked up a patent granted to the company on an upgrade to the Apple Pencil and the iPad. The patent describes the feature as an advanced tactile experience when using the device. It will be supported by sophisticated haptic feedback support, which can mimic real-life surfaces.
Soon, users may be able to experience the physical sensation of moving a paintbrush across of canvas. They may also be able to feel the gritty surface when drawing or shading with a pencil on a piece of paper.
To make the experience even more real, future Apple Pencils may be equipped with small speakers. These will be able to produce sounds that mimic actual surface abrasion or brush glides.
AirPods may get bone conduction in the future
The whole bone conduction technology isn’t new. Several headphones with this tech are already in the market. However, the majority of them don’t perform well, similar to a regular pair of headphones.
A new patent granted to Apple reveals that the company is going to adopt the same technology on future AirPods. Instead of relying solely on bone conduction, Apple will combine the regular AirPods with the technology. In other words, sounds can be transmitted both physically by bone conduction and through the air.
Bone conduction technology isn’t good at transmitting high-frequency sounds. As such, it will be assisted by the air-conduction transducer. The primary goal of innovation like this isn’t to produce better sound quality. Instead, it will be more for the benefit of users with poor hearing abilities.
The two patents mentioned above do not guarantee that Apple will incorporate them into final products. However, since these two features are practically already in the market, users can expect the company to implement them sooner or later.
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