Apple unveiled a new patent recently, covering a novel wristband mechanism that is capable of detecting wrist gestures and turning them into system controls for its gadgets.
The invention made its way into the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and according to its documentation it factors in wrist articulation movements, which get analyzed and converted into pre-programmed actions that can tinker with a wearable or separate device.
Apple's patent application is dubbed "Wristband device input using wrist movement."
Some illustrations of the patent show that the invention carries sensors that detect when the user changes their wrist position. For instance, force sensors can be coded to acknowledge the wristband's modification that happens when force or pressure is applied.
The input signals that the band detects are crunched and when a certain wrist gesture is determined, it is paired with a library of stored gestures that correspond to a slew of system commands.
To put it simply, the wristband can understand when flexion and extension are taking place. This could help developers code basic gestures, such as when people use their thumb and pinkie to make a "telephone" gesture. Basically, you can program your Apple Watch or iPhone to answer a phone call from afar by enabling this gesture control command.
More variety and complexity can be in store, too.
Combined gestures, such as clenching a fist and varied hand movements can be programmed to tune the music volume up and down, switch between audio tracks or engage in UI navigation for the Apple Watch. What is more, an iPhone could be remotely controlled via gestures, as well.
In the patent document, Apple details which materials would make the best wristbands and goes on to index a myriad of gestures and ideal sensor arrangements.
At the time of the writing, it is unclear if Apple will embed a control system that relies on gestures into its upcoming Apple Watch 3. However, some rumors hinted that the OEM is dabbling into providing active band accessories that link to the device through its diagnostics port.
The wrist gesture patent application comes with an April 2016 filing date and names Anton M. Davydov as its inventor.
Observant techies might see a certain resemblance to the technology of the Myo armband developed by Thalmic Labs. The band monitors electrical signals that go through the user's muscles and detects the specific hand and arm gestures. The wearable shows potential application in flying drones, and Thalmic already inked a deal with French drone manufacturer Parrot to make it happen.
