In a new update given by USPTO Apple seems to have been awarded a new patent that creates a collaboration system that can help a team of people to collaborate and work on a common shared digital work space using their existing devices like iPhones and digital pens. The patent says that most of the existing systems will have to be supported by expensive hardware but Apple aims to make use of existing hardware used by users to create a collaborative work space. The link between the digital pens and the large digital displays is created using the iPhone and its wireless network and then users will be able to interact on the large display either remotely or in the same room.
Apple also seems to be coming up with a friendly pop up options menu for various interactions. The current systems seem to be obstructing the display when a user tries to point out to information on the screen, but the proposed system by Apple solves this by creating a digital menu on clicking a specific allotted button on the pen or when the pen makes a gesture. The orientation of the menu is also based on orientation of the pen making it easier for every kind of users. The digital pen that Apple hopes to use would be based on multiple sensors that can detect gestures for easy usage.
By utilising such digital pens and existing hardware Apple seems to be aiming to lock down users further to their ecosystem and also guarantee more functionality with existing hardware.