Apple has filed a next-generation camera system patent for FaceTime with advanced enterprise collaboration possibilities, including the capability to parse in-air gestures and process physical drawings into digital media.
As first highlighted by Patently Apple, the tech giant published a patent application form earlier this month that included a new conferencing interface aiming to improve the user experience of those employing FaceTime for business or education purposes.
The solution intends to enable easier sharing of content during video meetings, as the patent's abstract wrote:
"There is a need for electronic devices to improve the sharing of content. Such techniques can reduce the cognitive burden on a user who shares content during live video communication session and/or manages digital content in an electronic document, thereby enhancing productivity."
Among the specific features included in Apple's imaging and gesture recognition solution are the capabilities to zoom in or focus on specific in-camera objects by pointing at them, zooming in or out of part of the screen by the user pinching their fingers, and the user changing their FaceTime background by placing a finger on their lips.
FaceTime can also parse a drawing made on a physical notepad and transform it into a digital illustration before sharing the image mid-call, which collaborators can subsequently edit. FaceTime's new interface will also potentially include colour management so that users can see the same colour shades and the ability to parse and translate text into the official language used by the organization's system.
Apple Dipping Their Toes in B2B Features for FaceTime
Apple is primarily a B2C organization that uses Cisco Webex for business communications rather than an in-house platform. As a result, Apple has generally avoided building enterprise-ready features into its FaceTime platform. However, this gesture and image recognition solution makes the service more appealing to business-oriented end users, as it helps make managing a live video conferencing session more efficient.
