Report: New Apple Technology Can (Theoretically) Read Your Hand Gestures

Apple Insider reported on Tuesday that Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) was granted a patent for a "machine vision system capable of recognizing human hand gestures."

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple U.S. Patent No. 9,002,009. Officially, Apple's patent covers "learning-based estimation of hand and finger pose." The invention utilizes optical 3D mapping system that can discern a user's hand gesture more accurately by applying specialized learning algorithms.

Apple's new patent compliments its already existing technology in depth mapping, including IP it acquired through its acquisition of PrimeSense, an Israeli company that was behind Microsoft Corporation's Kinect sensor for Xbox 360.

Shares of Apple traded recently at $127.13, down 0.3 percent.