A patent application was recently found by AppleInsider which reveals that Apple is investigating a wearable accessory device that features a flexible touchscreen display and conforms to the user's body through the use of a "slap bracelet" mechanism. Apple first filed their patent application for a "Bi-stable spring with flexible display" with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office in August of 2011. The patent describes and contains mock ups of a wearable accessory device that can be easily worn on a persons wrist. When activated, the device connects via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to a portable base device like an iPhone or iPod. The "Bi-stable spring" is most related to the slap bracelet that many of us wore growing up. According to the patent filing, this device features a flexible display screen with the necessary electronic components all fitting into the convenient body of a sleek wristband. The patent seems to make a wide range of design claims that allow Apple to iterate and develop the product even more before launch. This tactic is strategic on Apple's side since this seemingly broad based patent allows them to have claim over a wide range of wristband types and features. A patent like this gives Apple wiggle room before finalizing a design.
http://appleinsider.com/articles/13/02/21/apple-patent-filing-points-directly-to-iwatch-concept-with-flexible-touchscreen-display
Oh wow, this is pretty cool. Of course Apple is in the middle of it though, securing another potential profit-producing product going forward.
ReplyDeleteIt will be interesting to see how Apple proceeds with this upgrade of iWatches. I feel nowadays watches have gotten out of style because of their lack of functionality and those that try to add features usually are too bulky. Possibly Apple will bring back the watch trends. I believe that their current iWatch products on the market still haven't gotten enough publicty and therefore lost their popularity.
ReplyDeleteI read about this too. I also heard that other companies like Google and Samsung are in the process of developing such products. I just hope that a new set of battles between these companies, like the smartphone patents wars, do not begin.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen the iWatch yet, of course, so I have no idea what it actually looks like, but I think it would be very difficult to create a product that has the hallmarks of Apple design while still keeping it usable as a normal watch. I don't think I would buy the Apple iWatch, but I would excitedly watch for a Samsung Galaxy Watch that would no doubt come out 6 months after the release of the iWatch (of course leading to more lawsuits)
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