Tag: apple wearables

The technology involved appears to be wearables that will connect to and interact with the iPhone.

Apple Inc. has now been awarded a patent for a type of augmented reality glasses that would function based on a wireless connection with the iPhone and would possibly offer the wearer a three dimensional AR functionality not entirely unlike that of the halted Google Glass product.

The original filing for this AR technology device patent occurred back in September 2008.

The patent involves a mountable device that could be created in the form of wearable technology such as goggles or hats or that could be attached to hats or helmets. The patent doesn’t specifically discuss virtual or augmented reality, but it does show a device that has the potential of offering a split screen capability in order to display several different image frames in order to provide three dimension-like image depth through stereoscopic imaging.

The patent also shows possible augmented reality glasses that could adjust media display beyond the glasses lenses.

This would display the images at a distance of about 4 meters (about 13 feet), instead of 20 millimeters (about ¾ inch). That is the concept behind AR technology and it has, therefore, been assumed in many reports that this tech will be the focus of those wearables.

That said, Apple could choose to create integration of further advanced VR or AR functions into a device if it chose to do so, and could opt not to progress with the development. That said, as is always the case with Apple, it declined the opportunity to comment on any of its products that are still in development and that have not yet been officially unveiled.

This technology comes at a time in which Google has recently announced that its own two year old Explorer Program for its Google Glass augmented reality glasses has been shut down. Moreover, that company has hired a former exec from Apple, Tony Fadell, at the head of the company’s redevelopment efforts. It has stated that it will continue to sell the device to enterprise customers, but it is very clear that the company has taken a step backward from the route that it had been taking with that wearable technology.

Unofficial reports are now stating that the so called iWatch will be available in September.

According to a published report that has not been confirmed by Apple, the company’s long anticipated smartwatch, dubbed the iWatch, will likely be launched before the end of the year, and this will probably occur in September.

It is expected that the wearable technology device will have a heavy focus on health monitoring.

The going belief is that the smartwatch will contain at least 10 different sensors that will allow the wearer to be able to collect various forms of health measurements and other types of data. Even the Wall Street Journal is publishing its own predictions about the iWatch, which it believes is currently being planned in a number of different possible screen sizes.

Apple has been a latecomer to the smartwatch market, as the majority of its competition is already offering something.

For instance, Samsung, Qualcomm, Sony, Pebble, and several others have already launched their wearable technology gadgets. In fact, a few of them have already released more than one generation after having produced an update based on new technological developments and user feedback.

The majority of these wearables are currently focused on providing clock functions, email, call, and text notifications, and other similar features. Samsung released its Gear 2 line, this year, which added a range of apps that are fitness related, and the mobile device, itself, is equipped with a heart rate sensor.

It has been long believed that Apple has been working on its own iWatch, which is not an official name, but is merely the title that has been given to this rumored product. As is the policy of that manufacturer, absolutely nothing has been confirmed or denied regarding any of the claims that have been made about a smart wearable from its brand.

That said, it is broadly believed that it is in development and that its release should be expected quite soon. The main question isn’t whether or not the smartwatch exists but is rather when it will be officially launched. The going belief is now that the device will be launched in September, and that it will join the market at the same time as the company’s next range of iPhones.