2024 Gesture Recognition & Animation & Scroll

At WWDC 2024, Apple introduced several updates related to gesture recognition, animation, and scrolling across different platforms:

1. UIKit and SwiftUI Gesture Coordination: In the session What’s new in UIKit, Apple discussed the unification of gesture systems in UIKit and SwiftUI. This allows for better coordination of gestures across both frameworks, enabling developers to specify dependencies between gestures. For example, a single tap gesture in UIKit can coexist with a double tap gesture in SwiftUI by setting a failure requirement between the two.

2. watchOS 11 Double Tap Gesture: In What’s new in watchOS 11, the double tap gesture has been expanded to work in more places within apps. It can now be used to scroll through lists and views, and developers can designate a primary action for the double tap, such as activating a button or toggle.

3. Gesture-Driven Animations: The session Enhance your UI animations and transitions highlighted how animations can be driven by continuous gestures. This includes handling gestures like dragging with a pan gesture and animating objects based on the gesture's velocity.

4. VisionOS Gesture Input: In Explore game input in visionOS, Apple showcased the use of system gestures in visionOS, such as tap, double tap, pinch and hold, and pinch and drag. These gestures can be used for both direct and indirect interaction with objects, providing flexibility in game design.

These updates enhance the way gestures and animations are implemented across Apple's platforms, providing developers with more tools to create interactive and engaging user experiences.