Recientemente Patently Apple has recorded a report entitled «Apple wins patent for 3D virtual touch screen interface ». This patent could cover a computer system that would implement a three-dimensional display interface.
The report shows how 3D interface could be used on iMac and suggests that it would include a system of real object scanning to send information to 3D printers. This patent suggests a direct look at the future possibilities of the company.
The patent indicates that this technology was intended for implementation in Windows 8 before Apple acquired the developer company.
After learning this information, a second patent from the Cupertino and prime-sense related to a 3d camera indicates how these technologies could be implemented in the use of Apple TV to control iTunes contents, music, movies, photos, and much more.
In FIG 10 we can observe the position of the user with the hands within a visual field of 130º perceived by a recognition device of gestures and movements. This device would be connected to the computer system (perhaps to the Mac or the Apple TV) and would be based on an application of non-touch interface. FIG 2 of the patent entitled "interface based on zoom gestures»Is a schematic illustration of a tree data structure.
The two patents are closely related and in their combination we could obtain a system that would allow us control the Apple TV interface by gestures in the air like zoom, pan, and virtual button selection, without the need for a remote control.
These advances added to the arrival of Siri for Apple TV already suggested advancements from game developers for the device, promise a very interesting future for the evolution of this multifunctional multimedia center.