Imagine a wallet so smart, it can alert you if you leave a card behind after a transaction. Thanks to an innovative approach detailed in a new Apple patent application, this could soon become a reality.
Not only that, but this special MagSafe wallet could offer enhanced protection against accidental card loss - a common concern among users.
Enhanced Card Protection
For many, contactless payment has become the norm, with Apple Pay being a preferred choice. However, physical cards still have their place, especially in scenarios where contactless payment isn't an option. But the risk of forgetting to replace a card in the wallet or it slipping out unnoticed is ever-present.
According to Patently Apple, the Cupertino titan's patent application aims to address these issues by introducing a spring-loaded clip mechanism, akin to a mousetrap, to securely hold cards in place within the wallet.
"The internal view exposes a spring clip, which can be employed to exert a force against physical cards that are inserted into the smart wallet. Under this approach, the spring clip can help prevent the physical cards from simply falling out of the smart wallet under common scenarios, e.g., when only a single card is stored in the smart wallet when the smart wallet is placed into an upside-down orientation, and so on."
Related Article: This Apple Patent Will Give New Cooling System to Future iPhones, iPads
Smart Detection Technology
What sets this MagSafe wallet apart is its ability to detect the presence of cards and promptly alert users if one goes missing. By incorporating a strain gauge, the wallet can determine the number of cards inside.
If a card is removed and not replaced within a specified timeframe, typically five minutes, the wallet triggers an alert. This intelligent system ensures that users are promptly notified of any missing cards.
Advanced Features for Added Security
Apple's patent doesn't stop there. It envisions more advanced features to further enhance security. For instance, if a card remains missing even after the initial alert, the wallet could offer to contact the card issuer to freeze or cancel the card. Additionally, if you've already left the location where the card was removed, your iPhone could provide directions back to retrieve it and ensure you never lose track of your cards again.
While it's uncertain which features from the patent will materialize in actual products, the concept holds promise for enhancing wallet security, 9to5Mac writes. As long as physical cards remain essential backup options, innovations like these could offer peace of mind to users, ensuring their cards are protected like never before.
Previous Apple Patents
Back in February, Tech Times reported that a new patent could produce a sweat measurement feature for the Apple Watch.
This particular patent features the ability of the timepiece to measure how much a person sweats after an extreme activity. This is a good indicator to determine the health status of a person.
Earlier this month, another Apple patent surfaced and this time, it's about the Apple Watch SOS alert system. This patent focuses on helping swimmers when it comes to pool safety.
Swimmers can drown even if they are considered experts. To prevent this accident, there's a need to detect the swimmer's response in the water. If it will be materialized, it will be a life-saver for swimmers in trouble.
