According to PatentBolt, Google has filed a patent to bring backside controls to future Android devices. The finger swipes and scrolls could help users turn a page in an e-book, peruse through an online article, or flip back and forth between photos and shuffle through songs.

A conceptual drawing related to the patent shows an index finger scrolling through an article on the backside of what looks like a Nexus handset. To prevent any unintentional scrolling, the patent shows that the device will detect finger contact and then determine if it’s sufficient enough to trigger an action. It appears that the feature will not engage if the device is simply being held—only if it senses the index finger on the back holding down. The device may also provide visual, audio, or vibrating cues that the finger has been detected.

Apparently Apple filed a patent like this back in 2006 for its tablet devices, but the depiction shows two hands holding onto the tablet, with contact points on either side of the device. While the existence of a patent doesn't necessarily mean that the technology will be implemented any time soon, it will be interesting to see if Google goes this route for a future Nexus device and if it will get it on devices before Apple does.