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Google has been thinking about the smart watch market for a while. Its last patent application detailed a smart watch that had a transparent cover which could flip up and act as a transparent display. That unique functionality is about to be flanked by another patent today, as Google has filed a patent for a smart watch that implements touchpads on the sides of the digital timepiece.
The touchpads would effectively allow users to pinch and scroll without needing to touch the display itself. It sounds like a practical solution to a problem that has kept touch-based smart watches from being even more popular than they already are.
If you can control the user interface of a watch via touch without having to obscure your view of the display with your finger it could make way to more practical application user interface design. We’re not exactly sure how smooth this could be in implementation, but if the touchpad on Google Glass is anything to go by it should prove to be very intuitive. With that, we’re just about sick of hearing about these patent applications — it’s time to show us the real deal, Google.
Simpsons did it.
if my watch can replace my phone, then i’m interested. otherwise…pass….
^^ Exactly! I don’t want to keep carrying around my phone to blue-tooth a “smart watch” or Google Glass. Soon, we’ll have to purchase purses or backpacks to carry all these “Smart” devices. Because they all still rely on the smartphone..
I wear a watch everyday already, if i can get some new cool features from a smart watch, and/or it looks really cool and offers customization of the faces, I’m in.
I thought of that a long time ago, basically use the wristband like a touchpad on a laptop. and add functions that apples MacBook touchpad has (pinch to zoom and so on). how long till we see another famous apple lawsuit though?
I’m not sure about anyone else, but I seriously have no interest in a smart watch from any company. They seem like such a waste of time
Was that pun intended?
Build me a rugged one and I’m all in. (I’m a mechanic.) Just don’t mess with the specs like most rugged devices do. That could really help me keep my phone clean at work. lol
I do hate how it seems like whenever they make a rugged phone, it seems like they think to themselves “hey, we made it waterproof, etc, let’s stick a crappy processor and ram in it, maybe nobody will notice/care”. It seems like they’re always looking for excuses to gimp their devices. I’m cool with variation, just as long as every variant is THE BEST. :-D To put it mildly, I know what I want but I’m NOT buying it unless it’s at least comparable to the best that’s currently available.
The Kyrocera Torque is the best bet for now. 1.2Ghz Dual Core S4 with a Gig of Ram running ICS isn’t totally crappy. Just not top shelf
It’s too late Apple already patented the watch.
The Sony Liveview has capacitive buttons on the the four edges next to the screen. The screen itself isn’t touch so you never cover it up when using it.
Too late Apple already patented the watch.