It is kind of creepy what Apple is planning with the use of the iPhone’s sensors, but at the same time, it is a very neat idea that could indeed be quite useful.

A new Apple patent application was recently published that shows Apple has been researching more advanced uses of the iPhone’s sensors in order to predict what a user wants to do. How?

The patent talks about various scenarios in which information picked up by proximity sensors, ambient light detectors, temperature sensors and accelerometers to determine the state of the device, letting it automatically change it’s configuration to better suit the circumstances.

Some ideas are that the accelerometer would also determine if device is being picked up, temperature, ambient light, and proximity sensors to determine if device is in a pocket, proximity to see if the phone is held up to your ear or Bluetooth headset is being worn, and audio detection to see if you start talking into Bluetooth headset instead of the headphone.

So with this information the iPhone would be able to determine what it should do. For example, if my iPhone was on speakerphone and you held it to your ear, the speakerphone would turn off. If I put my iPhone into my pocket, the sound would turn off. I’m not to sure if I would like that, but it’s a neat idea anyway. Another example the patent describes is being able to rout a call directly to your wireless headset or to the phone based on what it thinks you’re currently using, such as speaking into, wearing or picking up one of them.

In addition, it is interesting to note that the iPhone, when placed in it’s dock, will recognize this and if you are in the middle of a call, automatically switch over to VoIP.

So I have never really thought about it, but these sensors in the iPhone; do you think you would like the extended uses of them or find it a bit to interfering. I’m sure not everyone will like the technology, but it is interesting to think about that not only will the iPhone know where you are, but what you do as well. Hmmm…