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What external changes could the Apple Watch receive in the future? A new display technology? A new case? Or even a new digital crown? A newly discovered Apple patent could possibly answer the question.
The current Apple patent refers to the Digital Crown of the Apple WatchBut what could Apple change about it? In short – expand the interaction. The patent, number #20200041962, is titled "Crown for an Electronic Watch" and describes a digital crown with touch and light sensors. Section (0034) of the patent states the following:
To detect motion from the image (e.g. the stored image), the image sensor may analyze multiple frames to determine, for example, a speed and direction of one or more features in the image. The analyzed features may include features of a user's skin (e.g. fingerprints, hair follicles) or any other optically recognizable feature, texture, surface irregularity, image or similar of any object. In this way, the device may respond to skin (e.g. the skin of a user's finger or hand), a stylus, a gloved finger, or any other suitable object with optically recognizable features.
Technology enables flatter housing
According to this, the current crown could be replaced by a completely digital version. The implementation of such technology could make the watch flatter overall and would have no negative consequences in terms of operation. The use of Touch ID would also be possible. The optical sensor would also ensure interaction with gloves. But as always, not every idea makes it into series production. On the whole, however, the technology sounds exciting. (Photo by HalfPoint / Bigstockphoto)
