Future 3D maps might be animated using touch or audio input

Sep 29, 2015 09:40 GMT  ·  By

As discovered by Patently Apple, Apple has been granted a new patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office describing a way of animating parts of a 3D map using touch, gesture, audio or motion inputs.

According to the "Non-static 3D map views" patent, Apple might create "a novel mapping application that animates three-dimensional (3D) views of a map when the mapping application renders the 3D views while in a satellite viewing mode."

The patent goes on describing how the new type of 3D maps can be used to animate various map elements using various types of input, such as audio, touch or motion, received by the device the maps application is running on.

Furthermore, the 3D maps that would get animated this way will also contain a number of captured images that should make them more realistic. The 3D maps app should also come with an image processing module designed to take care of the animation process, using geographic data captured via satellite.

The "Non-static 3D map views" patent also details how the mapping app would differentiate between what map parts should be animated: "the mapping application of some embodiments animates bodies of water based on touch input differently than when the mapping application animates the bodies of water based on audio input, motion input, etc."

3D Touch might also be a feasible way of controlling animated 3D maps

Another possible way to control how 3D maps would be animated would be by using the new 3D Touch capabilities of the HD Retina displays in the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Taking advantage of the multi-level pressure sensors built in the 3D Touch displays, future animated 3D mapping apps might be able to allow users to choose the exact map element that should be animated by way of applying various degrees of pressure on the displayed map.

As we all know, even though animated 3D maps might look good, since this patent has just been granted, Apple could choose not to use it in future products.

Apple has quite a long list of granted patents, of which very few have actually seen the light of day as part of a released product.

Animated 3D maps patent (5 Images)

Animated 3D maps patent
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