Apple has filed another interface patent. The latest one, called “Electronic Device Having Display and Surrounding Touch Sensitive Bezel for User Interface and Control” is for a touch-sensitive bezel (the frame around the screen) that would let users first select a control and then use a scrolling control (for example, at the bottom of the bezel) to adjust the setting selected. The ‘More information’ link features many more pictures that illustrate how this would work.
Earlier Apple patents focused on using a touchscreen as the control. Many feared that this would lead to smudges and scratches on screens. By moving the controls to the edges of the screen, Apple may have found a way to address this concern.
You can read more about the patent application here.
Source: Gizmodo