Smart bezel patents from Apple are old news, but Patently Apple has discovered some blow-away details. Put simply, Apple is proposing a bezel that doubles as a secondary display built around a printed segmented electroluminescence technology:
Apple intends to use the secondary display to introduce a set of new illuminated indicators that are able morph into various controls for work and play. Illuminated gaming and productivity controls could be built into the face-side of the bezel and/or selected back-side areas of iOS devices like the iPad.
This opens up a whole new world of creative possibilities…
The bezel running around iOS gadgets could be made touch sensitive, allowing users to tap the illuminated control to access common features such as media playback and game controls.
The new smart bezel may not have a traditional home button. Well, below is an example of how that could look like using Apple’s display. Apple could create a very simple yet very cool illuminated home button that only appears when your hand approaches the home button area as shown below in a generic example that shows off this technology.
If this patent ends up used in future iOS gadgets, expect easier, more convenient handling of everyday tasks. It’s sexy, there’s a substantial wow factor involved and it enhances the user experience in a Star Trek manner.