An Apple Inc. (AAPL) Patent Covering 3D Technology: Very Cool!

With Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) filing for and being awarded patents on what seems like a daily basis, it can be a challenge to keep up with everything the company is doing. However, we strive to bring you the most interesting patents. For instance, we talked about one of these here.

This time around, we are going to take a closer look at another patent that was recently granted to Apple: Touch screen device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating three-dimensional virtual objects

This has to be one of the most exciting patents granted to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) in 2013. Whether or not it is actually implemented in some way in the future is yet to be seen. However, don’t put anything past Apple.

Here is more from the official patent, explaining what the technology covers:

“A computer-implemented method, comprising: at a portable electronic device with a touch screen display: displaying a first perspective in a three-dimensional virtual space on the touch screen display, wherein the three-dimensional virtual space includes a plurality of three-dimensional virtual objects; detecting a first finger tap gesture on a first three-dimensional virtual object in the plurality of three-dimensional objects; in response to detecting the first finger tap gesture on the first three-dimensional virtual object, displaying an animated transition from the first perspective to a second perspective in the three-dimensional virtual space on the touch screen display, wherein the animated transition includes enlarging and substantially centering the first three-dimensional virtual object on the touch screen display in the second perspective in the three-dimensional virtual space, wherein the second perspective is different from the first perspective; while the first three-dimensional virtual object is enlarged, detecting a second finger tap gesture on a second three-dimensional virtual object other than the first three-dimensional virtual object; in response to detecting the second finger tap gesture, displaying an animated transition to a third perspective in the three-dimensional virtual space on the touch screen display, wherein the animated transition includes enlarging and substantially centering the second three-dimensional virtual object on the touch screen display in the third perspective in the three-dimensional virtual space, wherein the third perspective is different from the second perspective; detecting a third finger tap gesture on the enlarged first three-dimensional virtual object; and in response to detecting the third finger tap gesture, reducing in size the first three-dimensional virtual object on the touch screen display.”

While there are many ways in which this technology could be put to good use, the ability to relate to video gaming is something that has people excited. This could definitely change the approach to gaming forever.

This Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) patent was originally filed for on September 29, 2008. The inventors are listed as: Fabrice Robinet, Thomas Goossens, and Alexandre Moha.

For an image of this patent awarded to Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), visit the following page: