Industryweek 7081 Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent
Industryweek 7081 Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent
Industryweek 7081 Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent
Industryweek 7081 Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent
Industryweek 7081 Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent

Apple Gets Smartwatch Patent

July 22, 2014
A U.S. patent made public on Tuesday bolstered rumors that Apple has designs on a smartwatch.

SAN FRANCISCO -- A U.S. patent made public on Tuesday bolstered rumors that Apple (IW 500/4) (APPL) has designs on a smartwatch.

"The invention pertains to an electronic wristwatch," said a summary in Apple patent paperwork on record with the U..S Patent and Trade Office.

The patent describes a wrist band, possibly with a touch screen, configured to connect wirelessly to a mobile device such as a smartphone.

Disclosure of the patent added fuel to talk that California-based Apple intends to weigh in to the blossoming wearable computing market with a smartwatch.

Apple has remained tight-lipped about product plans, but CEO Tim Cook has stated repeatedly that impressive new products were in the works, and that he sees the wrist as a preferred spot for a wearable computing gadget.

"The central portion can include a touch screen display, control circuitry and a battery," the smartwatch patent paperwork stated. "The touch screen display can be configured to present visual information to the user and to receive user input from the user."

Features in the wristband could include sensors for tracking motion and even being able to give it commands with gestures, according to patent paperwork originally filed at the end of January in 2011.

A diagram included in the application referred to the device as "iTime."

Analysts along with Apple devotees have been eagerly watching the company for a new "big thing" that promises to be a must-have device.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2014

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

Adopting an Open Ecosystem: The Way Forward for Frontline Operations

March 11, 2024
Today's manufacturing tech stack thrives on connectivity, integrating new and legacy players for a seamless operation - not on monolithic systems. Embrace the future of frontline...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!