Apple files patent for a stylus capable of writing on air

The Surface Pen is one of the living examples of how the industry major such as Microsoft has invested heavily in the modern stylus. Given the fact that the industry is more focused on touchscreens, there still a lot of potential in these stylus pens.

Apple, which already owns a stylus called the Apple Pencil, might have bigger plans for this accessory. The company might be planning something innovative for the device as described in a patent called "Content Creation Using Electronic Input Device on Non-electronic Surfaces."

According to a report by TechRadar, the new tech will allow users to write on any surface, and in case no surface is around, it will even be able to write on the air. It might some awkward at first, but the stylus could also be used for more complex 3D implementations that will have VR capabilities.

Furthermore, the patent explains that the gestures made by the stylus user on any surface or in the air can be transmitted to connected devices using sensors or cameras that are either connected to a device or even inside a closed area.

This also suggests that the stylus can actually be helpful in a more complex VR implementation, and Apple could use this technology for its future devices.

"The position and/or motion of the input device can be tracked according to various methods including one or more of a motion and orientation sensor, a camera, or an electromagnetic- or sound-based triangulation scheme. The force data and position/motion data can be processed to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the content can be generated based on tracking position and/or motion of the input device without requiring contact with a surface," the patent reveals.

As with everything that's in the patent stage, there is no confirmation that the device will make it to mass production, as it happens with a lot of patents. But it sure does provide us with a sneak peek into Apple's vision for the small accessory.

Besides, Apple is also bringing a promising feature with iOS 11.3 that will allow users to check their phone's battery health. Not just that, the update will also let users turn off the feature that automatically slows down phone's performance as the battery ages.

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