Apple wants to patent 'swipe gestures'

Apple Inc., maker of the iPhone and iPod Touch media player, filed a patent application for software that lets users control computers and phones using swipes of their fingers.

Apple's system would allow users to insert spaces, line breaks and uppercase characters by swiping the screen rather than pressing keys, according to the application, which was made public by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office yesterday.

Apple's iPhone 3G passed Motorola Inc.'s Razr to become the most popular handset sold in the U.S. in the third quarter after less than three months on the market, research firm NPD Group said in November. Users control the device by tapping and swiping the screen, and enter text using a virtual keyboard.

The swipe gesture could be used with desktop computers, notebooks, personal digital assistants, media players and so- called tablet computers, which are portable machines with large touch-sensitive displays, according to the filing.

Apple applied for the patent in June 2007. Requests for patents are confidential for 18 months after they are filed. Apple spokeswoman Amy Bessette didn't immediately reply to an e- mail seeking comment.

Apple, based in Cupertino, California, rose 77 cents to $85.81 today on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have lost 57 percent this year.