"rumors" have it that apple are looking into de-buttonizing their laptops with this new patent.(pic above)the illustration shows pretty much just replacing the battery text button with a less button-y touch-sensitive button.in addition to displays, the virtual buttons would also have either a proximity sensor or a capacitive touch sensor, or both, allowing users to control elements of the computer even while its lid is closed. Specifically mentioned in the application are traditional buttons for media playback, like play, pause, and volume increase and decrease.Apple also notes that the buttons could be used for other functions, like to start up or shut down the computer.
"For example, sensing a touch, such as with a virtual 'button' when a laptop computer is in the closed-lid sleep mode, can wake up an external monitor..., sync an iPod or iPhone... with the laptop computer, or install software to the laptop computer while the lid is closed," the application reads.
The application, made public this week, was originally filed in August of 2010. The proposed invention is credited to Aleksandar Pance, Omar S. Leung and David Thomas Amm.
