Ever dropped an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s? You’ll know that those pretty glass panels on the front and back don’t take too kindly to it. Apple’s aware of the problem, as it’s just filed a patent to help protect them in the case of a fall.
The “shock mounting cover glass in consumer electronic devices” patent involves stuffing a layer of alert, protective padding in between the panel and the hardware underneath.
Through gyroscopes, the iPhone should be able to sense when it’s falling, as opposed to normal use, and react accordingly to cushion the screen on impact. If it works then we’re all for it, but we’d imagine this is a few years from becoming a feasible reality. Let us know your thoughts on our comments below or via our @Gadget_Helpline Twitter page or Official Facebook group.