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Apple Applies For Color-Change Patent
Secret300 writes "Apple is applying for a patent to release "devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance." If this is a success, it would considerably boost Apple's presence in the technology world." So, perhaps we can not only theme our desktop on the machine - but our *literal* desktop.
If this is a success, it would considerably boost Apple's presence in the technology world.
I'm not sure how pretty colors will bost them in the technology world, let alone the ability to change amongst various pretty colors. Remember those sneakers with the clear logo and replacable colored inserts? That didn't boost the shoes in the technology world, why would a similar tech boost Apple? Have their shiny colored computers boosted them "considerably" so far, or was it their generally good hardware architecture and cleanly-integrated OS? Sigh.
Apple invented the light bulb!!
Seriously 'tho..after reading the patent I don't think this is anything that special. It seems like Apple is going to start putting RGB LED lights inside a specially designed case so you can change the color of it to match your surroundings.
Is it just me or is this the hardware version of feature creep? Is Apple going to fit all its devices full of cute doodads just to raise the price more? My opinion is that Apple should be investigating an open architechture for its hardware..but that's just me.
Quite aside from the patent-worthiness debate, I'd say that, after reading about this everywhere I could, this is a VERY novel patent. Much more so than any patent I can remember in the past few years. The ability to change the skin of objects (like an iPod, or a cell phone or what have you) really would make a big impact on many industries. That is a far better patent than, for instance, tabbed window interfaces.
The world's only surviving livewriter.
if ( $org within ("Microsoft"|"Amazon"|"Intel")
&& $topic == "patent" )
{
post.story("Patents are evil, Linux r0x0rZ!");
}
elsif ($org within ("Apple"|"Transmeta"|"VA")
&& $topic == "patent" )
{
post.story("Feature xxx is cool! $org r0x0rZ!");
}
else {
ignore.story();
}
Conformity is the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth. -JFK
Or those t-shirts that change color, or those coffee mugs....
Serisouly, even if they are changing color dynamically, isn't that basically just wrapping an object in "electronic ink" paper?
Jon Acheson
All opinions expressed herein are my own, and not those of my employers, who are appalled.
The invention pertains to electronic devices capable of dynamically changing their ornamental or decorative appearance, i.e., the outer appearance as seen by a user. The electronic devices generally include an illuminable housing. The illuminable housing, which includes at least one wall configured for the passage of light, is configured to enclose, cover and protect a light arrangement as well as functional components of the electronic device. The light arrangement, which generally includes one or more light sources, is configured to produce light for transmission through the light passing wall(s) of the illuminable housing. The transmitted light illuminates the wall(s) thus giving the wall a new appearance. That is, the transmitted light effectively alters the ornamental or decorative appearance of the electronic device. In most cases, the light is controlled so as to produce a light effect having specific characteristics or attributes. As such, the electronic device may be configured to provide additional feedback to the user of the electronic device and to give users the ability to personalize or change the look of their electronic device on an on-going basis. That is, a housing of the electronic device is active rather than passive, i.e., the housing has the ability to adapt and change. For example, the light may be used to exhibit a housing behavior that reflects the desires or moods of the user, that reflects inputs or outputs for the electronic device, or that reacts to tasks or events associated with operation of the electronic device
any hard drive in a transparent housing, with a led indicating seek or read, is covered by this patent
"Times have not become more violent. They have just become more televised."
-Marilyn Manson
When I close the lid on my iBook and it goes to sleep there is a pulsing white light on the front of the machine where an LED is shining through the case. When that LED is off you wouldn't even know it's there.
It'd be nice if there were similar indicators for new mail, or alarms from iCal, connection state, short messages, etc.
THAT is how I think this technology will be used. As indicators of state independent of the display, that effectively use sparse cover space, that can change in multiple ways, and so forth. And uniquely, they don't mar up the computer's appearance when they're not needed. Possibly this will even be like having a second display capable of showing generalized information, at least in part. Changing the overall appearance of the computer is just a bonus.
---If you can't trust a nerd, who can you trust?
With all the discussion about prior art and how its not right to patent this and that Apple is all wrong and nuts for doing this, here's a few points to consider. Firstly, there is no prior art. We can't point at chameleons, since they respond to only a few stimulus to change their colors. You can't press a horn on one and get it to turn purple. If you have a chameleon with that much control, I think Ripley's would pay you big bucks to see that. Flashing LED's and monitor screens are nothing near what Apple is talking about in the patent (download the thing if you don't believe me) This is a lot more interesting. If you have seen the TiBooks you have seen how the Apple logo glows. Imagine if you could change the color of it. That is a lot more then a flashing LED. Now, why is Apple putting a patent on this? To protect their ass(ets) of course! Last time they had a truly original idea like this, the iMac itself, there were copies and knockoffs that made Apple look bad, especially when they tried to get them legally for it, the copiers cried that there was no patent and no trademark. Its about time Apple made a pre-emptive strike against the followers trying to ride the success of Apple's innovation.
.sig: It's what's for dinner.
Just because a Sciffy writer has used an idea in a story does not make it prior art! None of those guys knew how to make that magic happen, that is the charm of Sciffy; it lets you try on the future for size without the mess of inventing it.
What is patentable is the means to DO the magic. A patent must disclose that means in a manner that those skilled in the art could reproduce the results.
Dog is my co-pilot.