Today, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals their intention of adding Force Touch to a future version of the Apple TV Remote that will likely translate to 3D Touch. The patent application is drowned by the technical side of the device rather than focusing on what the feature will deliver. However we now understand 3D Touch due to the iPhone 6s, so we can figure out to a certain level, what we'll be able to expect from such a feature on the Apple TV Remote. Imagine tapping on your ABC network App icon and tapping harder to call up a view of the next four shows available or clicking on a movie icon but harder to get a peek and pop of the summary or trailer.

Getting right to the heart of the matter, Apple notes in their patent filing that "Remote control devices are used to control various electronic devices such as televisions, DVD players, stereos, and game consoles. Typically, the remote control device includes multiple buttons that can be pressed by a user to interact with the electronic device, or to interact with a program or application displayed on the electronic device itself or on a second electronic device connected to the electronic device. Many of these buttons provide a binary input for user interaction in that the buttons either register an input or they do not.

Some applications and remote control devices may benefit from additional inputs beyond that provided strictly by binary input devices. For example, it may be advantageous for a user to be able to indicate an amount of force applied to a touch input surface of a remote control device. For instance, a user could manipulate a screen element or other object in a first way with a relatively light touch or in a second way with a relatively more forceful touch."

3D Touch is Apple's marketing/branding for a kind of Force Touch. 3D Touch makes a lot of sense for Apple TV that is visually app-centric. With Apple saying that the future of Apple TV is apps, then adding 3D Touch to the Apple TV remote down the road is only natural.

Apple patent application 20160203710 was originally filed in February 2016. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of such a product to market is unknown at this time.

Can you think of how ways that this could be cool for the Apple TV remote? If you can, then share them with us in our comment section below.

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