Apple awarded patent for touch-friendly gloves

Apple has been awarded a patent for a touchscreen-friendly glove system, according to a new report. Patently Apple points to U.S. Patent 7,874,021, entitled “high tactility glove system,” which the publication has dubbed the “Magic Glove.” The patent describes a pair of gloves consisting of an electrically conductive inner liner, an optional insulating layer, and an outer shell, the latter of which can itself be electrically conductive, or else offer “at least one aperture through which the inner liner may extend to operate the input mechanism of an electronic device.” Notably, several companies already produce touch-friendly gloves using similar systems; as with all Apple patents, this filing does not necessarily represent any future product release from Apple, but offers evidence of the company’s research in this area.