Apple's 3D Desktop Patent Filing Examined 156
phantomfive writes "The patent office has released some patent filings by Apple which indicate that the company is working on a 3D desktop of some sort. They call it a multi-dimensional desktop, according to the patent filing." There's also some commentary at ZDNet; both stories link to a detailed run-down at AppleInsider.
Guess they haven't heard of... (Score:3, Informative)
This clearly shows that the patent system is broken. Sun have been working on a 3D Desktop since the early 2000s.
More info: http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/ [sun.com]
Re:Guess they haven't heard of... (Score:5, Informative)
That's like saying that since cars have existed for over 100 years it is impossible to get a patent on a new development for a car.
Looking at the claims, this patent is (unsurprisingly) not trying to claim the use of 3-D technology in a computer GUI. Instead, look at independent claim 1:
The Apple application is for the use of a room-like setting where there is organization of visual elements along the "floor", "walls", and "ceiling" of the room. This is definitely different than looking glass, about the closest thing I've seen would be a demo from Qt on a Wolfenstein + desktop elements interface: see video here [trolltech.com]. However, it is unclear if the Wolfenstein demo actually anticipates the claims of this patent on two grounds: 1. the use of a static room could be different enough from the use of a maze, and the Wolfenstein demo does not stack & arrange elements like Apple is claiming) and 2. The Apple invention likely predates the WolfQt code.
Additionally, as is often the case with Slashdot, the readers do not understand the difference between a granted patent and a patent application. This is ONLY an application, and as any patent practitioner knows, what you originally apply for is often much different than what you eventually get granted as a patent.
Finally, before everyone in here panics that Linux will be illegal in 2 weeks or some other nonsense, just look at the subject matter that Apple is patenting: It's a stupid room with windows pasted on the wall! Who cares!! Even if Apple gets the patent, just don't go out and copy them and you'll be fine. The attitude of panic on here is actually indicative of a deeper fear. It's not that patents "stifle innovation", but instead that patents mean you can't just make a direct knock-off of some other UI which is what really freaks some people out.
Re:Soooo.... (Score:2, Informative)
Well at least there is a ton of prior art like compiz etc.
I remember in the end of the 90's at an oil company i worked for,
we had 3-4 SGI machines that used an array of projectors to create
a 3d world for the engineers to explore the ground. You used a glove
and cloud pull apart the different geological layers and pull down
menus with your hand.
The US patent system is def. screwed if they pass something like this.
3D (Score:2, Informative)
So the new Apples will have holographic displays? If not, it isn't 3D, it's perspective [wikipedia.org] .
Re:Procting for the future. (Score:1, Informative)
That would be impossible. There was no Episode 4 in the 70's, just Star Wars.
Yes, I'm being a dick for amusement rather than actual irritation. If you had called it "A New Hope", then I would have cared a little because it's such a lame title compared with the original.
Re:It's a unix system! I know this. (Score:5, Informative)
Re:I love 3D (Score:4, Informative)
They'll need to solve the motion sickness problem for some people first. I got quite sick at a 3D IMAX production, I think called "Deep Sea" a number of years ago. They had these big polarized goggles that would sit on your head and you would get a 3D effect from looking around. The problem was, as far as I could tell, was that any movement in 3 dimensional space was not accompanies by movement of the inner ear. So my eyes were thinking I was moving along the sea floor, but ears said "no way". I ended up taking them off and watching the movie in 3D. I was OK by the end of the movie.
Second experience was riding on the Aladdin carpet ride at Disney World/EPCOT in Florida. I believe this is the virtual ride developed by Randy Pausch of Carnegie Mellon, the guy that gave that great speech when he got cancer. I got really sick on this one, in fact ended up puking after the ride. It was similar, one part of my brain said that I was moving in space but other parts said "no way". I am a sailor and was training to be a pilot, and hadn't been seasick in years... but this ride made me hot, sweaty and eventually pukey. Nastiest experience I have had in years.
I am assuming that the display, if just used for navigation, won't have a lot of movement that might induce motion sickness. After all, I can look around in space now without a problem, changing focus on things near and far, looking from right to left etc. So maybe it won't be any kind of problem. I can tell you I won't be a first adopter though! Blech!
Prior art? (Score:2, Informative)
Re:I love 3D (Score:3, Informative)
Compiz Fusion (Score:1, Informative)
Re:I love 3D (Score:2, Informative)
I hate to break it to ya, but your retina is 2d interface. We seem to get along fine with it ina 3d world. :)
Re:I love 3D (Score:3, Informative)
I agree with your post for the most part but Apple isn't leading here:
http://bumptop.com/ [bumptop.com]
http://www.sun.com/software/looking_glass/ [sun.com]
They may "lead" in bringing something like this to the market quicker (like they did with desktop composition) but they didn't invent this stuff. Certainly not patent worthy.
Please, STFU if you have nothing useful to say (Score:5, Informative)
It's also obvious that if you've ever used an apple portable, you've never bothered to look at the preference pane for configuring the pointer (trackpad or mouse). Their is a checkbox present that says "Ignore accidental trackpad input" that works flawlessly. There is also a checkbox that says "Ignore trackpad when mouse is present"
Please, if you've never actually used a piece of equipment, don't give your ignorant opinion on it. It'd be like me giving you my opinion of Halo 3. Never played the game so have no worth while input on the topic.
Re:I love 3D (Score:1, Informative)
Dude .. Seriously .. if that shit gets you sick .. DO NOT become a pilot.
Speaking as a CFII ( Flight instructor for instrument ratings ) any maneuvers you do while in clouds ( no visual references ) will make you puke .
even better is when you do a PROPER turn , you will have visual references , but no feel anything. A proper 2 min turn will place 1 g on you directly through the floor. So you will feel as if you are flying straight and level , but be turning.