The iPhone 6s will reportedly feature a deeper version of Force Touch called 3D Touch

Force Touch iPhone concept Maximilian Kiener 001

At this point, it’s pretty much a given that the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus will feature some type of Force Touch implementation. Rumors have been going around, analysts have hinted to it, code has been discovered, and parts have leaked out that hint to the inclusion of the new  technology.

What hasn’t been as clear is how the adaption of Force Touch will work on a device like an iPhone. For the Apple Watch, Force Touch was pretty much a necessity given that device’s diminutive size and limited input options. For the iPhone, a device with way more screen real estate, the implementation of Force Touch can potentially take on many angles.

Earlier Today, 9to5Mac’s well-connected blogger Mark Gurman provided some additional details on what to expect from Apple’s first usage of Force Touch in its primary money maker. Apparently, Force Touch will actually be branded as the 3D Touch Display, and will include not just two levels of pressure sensitivity—but three.

The Apple Watch, a product in which Force Touch technology debuted, features two levels of pressure sensitivity—a basic tap and a firmer  deep press. According to Gurman’s report, the next-gen iPhones will build on this technology, introducing a third layer of pressure sensitivity. It’s being described as “a tap, a press, and a deeper press”.

With such nuanced pressure sensitivity comes the ability for deeper interactivity. As we described in an earlier post, the appearance of pressure sensitivity, or 3D Touch as it’s said to be called, can add a new dimension to app development and overall iOS interface interaction.

Here are some of the additional features that a 3D Touch Display may bring to the table:

  • No additional user interface as with the subtle integration on the new MacBooks.
  • A user interface that appears surrounding the finger where the Force Touch gesture is conducted.
  • A shortcut list toward the bottom of the display akin to a typical options list across iOS.

And who knows, maybe there will be a public API that developers can use to implement 3D Touch into their apps and games.

3D Touch, in addition to another feature that began on the Apple Watch—Taptic feedback—will usher in a brand new sensory experience for new iPhone owners.

Of course, all will be revealed and fully clarified on September 9th. That’s when Apple representatives will step on stage at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium and spill all of the precious details about the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus.

Until then, what are your thoughts on this deeper version of Force Touch? And what do you think about the name 3D Touch?

Source: 9to5Mac