Apple Working On 3D Desktop

Apple has today applied for a patent for a Multi-dimensional desktop, the patent application can be found here. Here’s how Apple describes its invention:

A graphical user interface has a back surface disposed from viewing surface to define a depth, and one or more one or more side surfaces extend from the back surface to the viewing surface.

Basically, there is a back surface, that resembles the one found on the 2 dimensional displays of today’s Macs. Then, there are walls, a roof and a floor. The walls can act as sidebars and contain icons.

The floor will house most of the desktop icons, possibly in stacks or rows. All these elements combined should create a 3d viewing experience. It would be even cooler with a 3d monitor, but that’s a little too much to ask for.

We will keep you posted with possible release dates and specifications which we should receive soon from one of our sources.

Here’s a depiction of what the 3d display would look like:

Some other placements, courtesy of Apple Insider:

As the above image suggests, stacks of icons can be moved around on a circular axis.

Several windows can be open on the back surface at the same time. The above diagram also shows the placement of sidebars and widgets onto the “walls.”

Here’s an experimental circular placement:

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