Apple is planning to make texting while walking safer by introducing a new Application called "Transparent Texting" which allows users to see what is in the front of their eyes on their mobile phone itself. This was revealed by a patent application filed by Apple in 2012 at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The patent describes that with the help of the rear camera, the smartphone replaces the text's background by live video of whatever is in front of the user. This concept can be beneficial since many mobile users continuously text while walking, there's a high chance of tumbling over obstacles and in some cases it can lead to serious accidents.

Here, the user we be able to activate this feature of transparent texting by pressing a transparency button which will appear during a texting session which automatically starts the live video. The feature enables text bubbles appear above the video feed which would be opaque or semi-transparent. Interestingly, this concept was already implemented by another third party app called "#-Link-Snipped-#".


According to the study by researchers from University at Buffalo in US, texting while walking can cause more harm than distracted driving. While injuries caused by car accidents while texting are more severe, it is important to note that injuries due to texting while walking occur more frequently. This is justified in The New York Times report which says that more than 1,000 pedestrians were injured due to texting while walking in year 2008. Therefore, Apple's transparent texting will app might actually be of lot of help.

This technology can also be used for web browsers and ebooks where the text and messages would appear over the live video background. What do you think of this amazing concept? Share with us in your comments below.

Source: Apple's 'transparent texting' tech aims to make it safer to walk and text