The next few months will be freezing cold for many of us,\u00a0but we\u2019ll resist wearing gloves because it means we won\u2019t be able to use our iPhones while we\u2019re out and about.\u00a0Fortunately, this may not be a problem with future Apple devices.<\/p>\n
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A new Apple patent published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office reveals the company has been working to make the iPhone\u2019s display compatible with gloves. In a filing titled\u00a0\u201cGlove Touch Detection,\u201d Apple describes a display that can detect touch input through certain barriers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to using a signal density make threshold to identify an input patch as touching the surface, a signal density stability threshold can be used to identify the input patch as touching the surface,\u201d Apple explains.<\/p>\n
This means you won\u2019t have to pull off your glove to reply to text messages, snap a picture, or answer a call on your iPhone \u2014 or buy special touchscreen gloves. It would also allow you to use your device with bandages or plasters\u00a0on your fingertips.<\/p>\n
Apple wouldn\u2019t be the first company to do this, of course. In fact, the Cupertino company is pretty late to the party, with rivals like Samsung already offering features that allow their devices to be used with gloves on. Hopefully it won\u2019t take Apple too long to catch up.<\/p>\n