Samsung has thought of a better way to project its next smartwatch's user interface to a larger screen.
Samsung recently filed a patent application for a smartwatch that can project a display onto users' hand, a wall, or any nearby surface.
The South Korean firm's filing with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office describes a wearable device that comes with a feature that can identify your hand's shape. The smart timepiece also makes use of a mini projector to beam its UI on a surface to show bigger controls and more information.
What can users do with the projected image?
They can, for instance, enter phone numbers by tapping on a virtual dial pad displayed on a surface. The smartwatch is also equipped with a nifty feature that can read handwriting from where the UI is projected. The watch also allows users to type their text via its QWERTY keyboard beamed by the tiny projector. On top of that, the device will also provide a zoomed-in view of a map displayed on the smartwatch.
All these and more will soon be made possible, thanks to the camera fitted into the device that is capable of detecting how users' other hand interacts with the projected virtual UI.
Of course, before this idea from Samsung can come to fruition, Samsung will undeniably have to overcome a slew of challenges, such as the device's battery life limitations.
In any case, if this concept will materialize, this will somehow make smartwatches more indispensable than they are today.
It will, of course, be a welcome treat if people can use their watches to stream videos, send out and receive emails and play video games. These are the things that are lacking on present versions of smartwatches as they only have a little screen.
Furthermore, like any other patent applications, there is no assurance that this new wearable device will see the light of day. However, it is great to see that the firm is baking a smartwatch that is not only interesting, but out of the box as well.
In 2015, Samsung Gear S2 began landing on store shelves. It runs Tizen, Samsung's operating system and boasts a round face and features two versions: the classic model and the standard one.
Once the new projector-equipped smartwatch starts hitting the market, will you shell out money to purchase it? Let us know what you think.
