14 DAY TRIAL // Apple is believed to be working on an all-new Apple Watch that would come with a built-in camera for taking photos and selfies without the need for an iPhone.
And a patent discovered recently provides us with glimpse into what could be a rather unique approach to offer a camera on the Apple Watch without compromising the available screen estate.
The Cupertino-based tech giant wants the camera to actually be placed on the wrist of the watch and not on the device itself, basically giving users the option of adjusting the angle for a more convenient way of taking photos.
The challenge of replaceable bands
The patent, which is called “Watch band with optical sensor” describes various approaches, including with one or two cameras integrated into the wristband, one of which would be used for taking selfies.
“A camera optical sensor is disposed at a distal end portion of a camera watch band that attaches a watch body to a user's wrist. The camera watch band is configured to be coupled to at least one side of the watch body, and the camera watch band includes an optical sensor or camera, and an operable connection to transfer data between the optical sensor and the display or other device,” the patent reads.
“The band is flexible and may be manipulated by a user to aim an optical sensor disposed at the distal end portion of the camera watch band separately from the watch body. The display or other device functions as the viewfinder for the optical sensor.”
Needless to say, such an approach could raise some other challenges, especially given it would be integrated into the wristband, which would make interchangeable bands less likely.
And because it’s all just a patent, there’s absolutely no guarantee that this idea would ever make it to mass production, albeit I think that sooner or later, Apple will launch an Apple Watch with a built-in camera.