Apple has been granted a patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office for a new interactive trackpad designed for future MacBooks. This innovative trackpad features customizable, backlit touch elements, promising more efficient interaction with drawing applications, text editors, and other software.
The patent describes a trackpad with configurable touch areas and integrated backlighting. A holographic optical element with diffraction gratings will refract light, making the backlighting visible to the user. This allows for the creation of dynamic, illuminated controls directly on the trackpad surface.
A key feature is the ability to customize active areas. The patent mentions various templates for backlit touch controls and active touch zones tailored to specific applications. This suggests the trackpad could adapt its layout and functionality based on the software being used. Additionally, the trackpad could switch between viewing and editing modes, enhancing workflows for drawing and text manipulation.
As this is currently a patent, there's no guarantee when or if this technology will appear in a shipping product.
