Apple wants Macs, iPhones, iPads to be able to use multiple screens to display 3D content

Apple has been granted a patent (number 11,079,995) for “user interfaces with multiple displays.” The goal is to allow Macs, iPhones, and iPads to interact with multiple displays. And the devices would use this set-up to, among other things, display 3D content.

About the patent

In the patent filing, Apple says there’s a need for electronic devices to provide efficient methods and interfaces for consuming or interacting with content across multiple displays or across multiple physical regions of a single display. The tech giant says this makes life easier for users who browse and/or downloads such applications, games and/or in-app purchases. 

What’s more, Apple says that such techniques can reduce processor and battery power otherwise wasted on redundant user inputs. The patent filing explains techniques for interaction between non-touch screens, touch screens, and touchpad.

Summary of the patent

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “In some embodiments, an electronic device displays and allows user interaction with content on multiple displays. In some embodiments, an electronic device displays three-dimensional content using coordinated views on multiple displays. In some embodiments, an electronic device shares content while displaying a video conferencing user interface. In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates the display or keeping private of content on multiple displays. 

“In some embodiments, an electronic device facilitates the display of information from applications using a shared graphical input coordinate space. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents indications of notifications. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents representations of items of content that are related to content presented on the one or more electronic devices. In some embodiments, an electronic device presents user interfaces including a soft keyboard.”

The accompanying graphic illustrates ways in which an electronic device displays and allows user interaction with content on multiple displays.