Should have API to determine if Pencil is nearby

Originator:me
Number:rdar://22879614 Date Originated:28/9/2015
Status:Open Resolved:
Product:iOS SDK Product Version:9.1 beta
Classification:Enhancement Reproducible:N/A
 
Summary:
UIKit on iPad Pro should provide an API to determine if a Pencil is likely to be in use. Applications can then use this API to adapt their user interface to optimise it for Pencil input.

For example, a drawing app might default to driving its UI and its drawing canvas from finger touches. But if the API indicates that a Pencil is likely to be in use, it could switch to a Pencil-optimised mode where finger touches pan and rotate the canvas while only the Pencil draws.

The API could perhaps use the following information to indicate the likelihood of Pencil input:

* If a Pencil is paired to the iPad Pro,
* If the Pencil is in proximity to the iPad Pro,
* If the Pencil was recently used for input in another app,
* If the Pencil is in motion (i.e. if its tilt is changing as a result of being in the user’s hand).

Such an API could be used when an application becomes active, or even while active it the API included notifications of changes to the state.

Steps to Reproduce:
N/A

Expected Results:
N/A

Actual Results:
N/A

Version:
iOS 9.1 beta

Notes:


Configuration:
iPad Pro

Attachments:

Comments


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