Apple, it seems, is looking into just about any technology that will help keep its devices' button counts to a minimum. The latest uncovered Apple technology patent proposal is an exploration of gesture-based technologies--the sort of thing that's been all the rage in the tech world ever since the Nintendo Wii first surfaced.

The gesture-based functions would replace clicking onscreen buttons; flicking the device to scroll through content, for example. The patent also explores methods for avoiding accidental phone interaction like touch detection on the phone's bezel and a motion-sensitive feature that makes buttons larger and easier to press in the event that the user is, say, jogging.

Also interesting in the drawings is the presence of a forward-facing camera, perhaps aimed at allowing video chat and similar services on the device.