The multi-finger touchscreen technology used in Apple's iPhone and iPod touch may be graceful in optimal conditions, but the capacitive technology has a few drawbacks. For example, if the screen becomes wet it can no longer read input. Or if you're wearing gloves because it's freezing cold outside, it won't be able to get the electrical response it needs from your fingers. You may have to keep on living with the rainy-day frustration, but Apple has filed a patent for special gloves that would alleviate the latter problem.

The patent describes three possible solutions. In one, the gloves would be at least partly made of conductive material that would let your finger's electrical field interact with that of the screen so your touch could be sensed. In another, less original solution you could remove the fingertips of the gloves to operate the device. Or the tips could feature an "elastic ring" that allows your finger to pass through and make contact with the screen when you push.

If you live in a place like Toronto or Chicago, and that icy winter weather is putting your iPhone out of commission, these gloves would be a more elegant solution than most or all of the third-party options out there. It's just too bad we don't know when — or even if — they'll come to market.

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