For many technology enthusiasts and iPhone users, Apple's recent patent—US11782571B2—promises to be ground-breaking. This development may bring a revolution in the way we handle 3D objects on a 2D screen, making it easier, faster, and more efficient.
When it comes to programming a Computer-Generated Reality (CGR) application, such as a game, the process is usually time-consuming and complex. It demands a lot of expert knowledge in areas like 3D object design and application coding. Not everyone has access to this knowledge, hence creating a CGR application can often seem like a mountain that's too high to climb.
Moreover, getting CGR objects—like a model of a building or a character in a video game— to sit just right in a CGR scene is another daunting task for users. But Apple's new patent might be the solution we've long waited for, known as the "Device, method, and graphical user interface for manipulating 3D objects on a 2D screen."
This patent introduces a tool that will appear when we touch or click on the 3D object shown on the 2D screen. This tool will allow users to move the object up, down, left and right, thus simplifying the generation of a CGR file. It means less time spent coding and more time spent creating.
Imagine being able to sit on your couch, iPhone in hand, and effortlessly designing a virtual-reality video game or creating a 3D model of a dream home. This could significantly lower the barrier to entry into CGR programming and open up the field to many more people.
However, Apple's patent isn't currently on their iPhone product line yet, and there's no certainty when or whether it will be. Despite this, we eagerly look forward to the possibility of a future where navigating the world of 3D objects becomes hassle-free.
P.S. As always with patents, we should clarify this is a declaration of an idea and there's no certainty that this exact device or software will ever come to market. The diagrams and descriptions provided by Apple in the patent document serve more to lay claim to the concept rather than promising a new product.
It's an exciting concept, nonetheless, and we keenly anticipate apple's next move. Whether it's this exact patent or a similar version that makes it into the next generation of iPhones, the future of 3D object manipulation on 2D screens certainly does look brighter.