Apple's Future Mouse Doesn't Need To Be Touched, Can Control Only Through Air Movements

Apple is exploring a new feature of adding a movement detection system around the mouse. (photo: dock. apple)

JAKARTA - Apple is researching the latest Magic Mouse development for Macs that can detect gestures not on their surface, but in the surrounding table area.

When Apple introduced Magic Mouse in 2009, it brought a multi-touch gesture feature. Since then, the design has undergone several changes, and there have been various rumors about further redesign. However, these rumors usually only address the old issue: the position of the USB-C port for charging at the bottom.

Now, through a new patent titled "Electronic Devices with Extended Input-Output Capabilities", it is revealed that Apple is exploring new features of adding a movement detection system around the mouse.

The patent states that, "Mouses or other electronic pointing devices can have a row of sensors on the device's side to detect user finger locations in laterally adjacent areas."

This sensor can be in the form of an optical sensor with a light source such as an LED or laser, as well as a light detector. In addition, a capacitive sensor is also mentioned as a method to capture input from the user's finger in the area around the device.

3D Gestur In The Air

Apple explains that this system allows users to perform three-dimensional gestures, for example by moving their fingers or hands by air near the device. Thus, future Magic Mouse could adopt part of the gesture technology currently used in Apple Vision Pro.

Patents also call the use of visible and infrared light cameras, as well as projectors that can project images or visual elements on the surface of the table. The images can be in the form of virtual buttons, folder icons, to menus that can be selected with a touch of fingers.

Projection Like Laser Keyboard

This technology is similar to the projected QWERTY laser keyboard to a flat surface, where users can type directly on top of the projection and its motion will be recognized by a mouse camera. While it looks more suitable to apply to devices like the MacBook Pro, this patent still emphasizes its main focus on using in Magic Mouse.

However, Apple is also expanding the scope of the use of this technology on other devices, including:

Functionality Is Wider

For example, tapping the table next to the mouse can activate certain shortcuts, placing a coffee cup on the table can turn on the Mac, or the pinching movement in the air can enlarge the screen display.

Apple also mentions that this gesture is not to replace traditional input completely, but to complete inputs such as click, touch, or regular exchange movements.

However, like all other Apple patents, there is no guarantee that this technology will actually be present in products to be released to the market.

This patent is credited to three inventors, one of whom is Paul X. Wang, an innovative figure who previously also filed a patent to replace Touch Bar with a deposit slot for Apple Pencil.