“Today the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that reveals one of their next wearable computers in the form of a ring that incorporates touch-sensitive surfaces, gesture sensors, and/or voice-input recognition, a camera, microphone and more,” Jack Purcher reports for Patently Apple. “Apple ring could be used with a smart TV, according to Apple, be wirelessly charged in your car wireless via a smart steering wheel and much more.”
“Apple’s invention describes a new wearable computer in the form of a ring with touch-sensitive surfaces, gesture sensors, and/or voice-input recognition, a camera, microphone and more,” Purcher reports. “In some embodiments, the wearable ring device further includes a biometric sensor for sensing biometric information of the user and/or a near-field-communication transmitter for transmitting data related to the user.”
“The ring computing device is more portable than a mouse, doesn’t require a computer, doesn’t require eye contact with the touch screen, allows the user to not be tied to a computer, cellular phone, or tablet to certain control electronic devices (e.g., televisions), reduces the inefficiencies of mode switching by not requiring a user to move his or her hand off a keyboard to move a mouse or touchpad, and is smaller, more portable, and less obtrusive than existing devices,” Purcher reports. “The ring computing device can be operated using a single hand; the ring does not need to be put aside when, for example, the user needs to hold another object. The ring computing device can be carried unobtrusively for periods of time by the user and used when the user requires (to, for example, control light of a room as the user enters the room or to control devices at work or in a car).”
“This isn’t a design patent, so the graphics don’t reflect what Apple intends to ever release,” Purcher reports. “This is a utility patent that describes the Apple Ring functionality and purpose.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Car key? Apple TV Remote? Health and fitness device? Home Automation controller? Wow!
SEE ALSO:
Apple’s entry into wearable computing: iRing, not iWatch? – March 20, 2014
Without Apple to lead the way, current crop of clumsy wearable gadgets not ready for prime time – January 10, 2014
Analyst: Apple to release full-blown, ‘iRing’-controlled, carrier-subsidized ‘iTV’ television this holiday season – June 5, 2013
Analyst: Apple ‘iTV’ with ‘mini iTV’ and ‘iRing’ motion controller to launch this year – April 3, 2013