Apple has filed a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) that would allow iPhone users to use the device in the rain. Smartphones are built to withstand some moisture, however, most of them fail in conditions such as rain or even underwater. This makes it difficult for users to operate the device with wet fingers or on a wet display.
Apple’s patent suggests that future iPhones could adapt to moisture events by automatically adjusting the on-screen display, control buttons, and sensors. The pressure and moisture sensors will help detect and eliminate any false touches that may be triggered by liquid on the screen. The on-screen controls will be arranged accordingly by moving them apart, changing their size, or removing them.
Additionally, the iPhone’s capacitive display would change to a pressure-sensitive screen similar to the brand’s no longer used Force Touch and 3D Touch technologies. This means that a user will need to apply greater pressure than the predetermined threshold depending on the type of moisture event.
Apple’s patent document shows the iPhone’s camera app working in dry, wet, and underwater modes. Depending on the modes, changes are made to the camera UI. In the wet mode, some camera features are automatically removed from the UI so that they can’t be activated. On the other hand, in underwater mode, the buttons are extra large in size and without access to any other settings. The smartphone’s display will also show the current depth of the device to keep it within the limits of water resistance.
This is just a patent filing so readers must take this article with a grain of salt. Not every patented technology makes it to the final product. It also might take some time before we start seeing this feature in smartphones.
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