Google patent suggests rear touchpad may be coming to future Pixel phones
Like most smartphones, the Google Pixel 9 (approx. $629 on Amazon) relies entirely on its touchscreen for control. However, this could change with a future Pixel phone, as Google has patented an innovative smartphone back cover capable of detecting touch inputs.
This technology appears to be a more advanced version of the Sony PlayStation Vita’s touchpad. Instead of a touch surface that responds to every input, the patent outlines a machine learning model capable of generating a model of the user’s hand to differentiate between intentional gestures and the act of merely holding the smartphone.
The patent specifically describes gestures for tasks such as scrubbing through a video, changing screen brightness, and adjusting audio volume, all without relying on the touchscreen. The system uses artificial intelligence to detect unintentional inputs, for example when a user is simply repositioning the smartphone in their hand. Furthermore, it seems users may have the option to designate specific areas of the back covers as gesture-responsive to ensure a more reliable experience.
As is usual with such patents, it remains unclear whether Google will ever release a smartphone with this technology. Nonetheless, this patent indicates that Google’s engineers are internally working on ways to make navigating smartphones more efficient. In any case, the Pixel 10 lineup is unlikely to support this feature yet, given that rumours are suggesting a rather modest upgrade over its predecessor.
Source(s)
WIPO, via Patently Apple
