Apple is constant to analysis new know-how and equipment for the Apple Watch. Earlier this yr, a patent revealed know-how that would energy a color-changing Apple Watch band. Now, the US Patent and Trademark Workplace has granted Apple a patent for an Apple Watch band with an built-in NFC module … that might be used for good or dangerous.
Apple Watch’s NFC band know-how
As first noticed by Patently Apple, this patent covers an Apple Watch band with an built-in NFC chip that’s then in a position to talk with the NFC chip contained in the Apple Watch itself. The Apple Watch can then determine which band is linked, then use that data to do just a few various things.
As an example, watchOS may dynamically change its consumer interface primarily based on which band is connected. This might embrace altering watch faces altogether or adjusting the design of the present watch face to higher match the colour of the brand new watch band. The Apple Watch may additionally toggle totally different apps, such because the exercises app, when a specific band is linked.
Moreover, this might additionally permit Apple to crack down on third-party Apple Watch bands. The report from Patently Apple highlights this textual content from the patent:
Upon willpower {that a} band that’s coupled to the system shouldn’t be a licensed band, a warning could also be supplied utilizing an output part of the system, and/or a number of options of the system could also be disabled or in any other case modified. In one other instance, a specific band could also be related to a specific utility or service on the wearable digital system.
Upon identification of a band that’s related to a specific utility or service on the wearable digital system, the system could activate or present entry to options related to that utility or service
The patent additionally describes a system during which the Apple Watch bands embrace different elements alongside the NFC chip. This might embrace “a number of sensors” reminiscent of “environmental sensors, biometric sensors, gesture sensors, inertial sensors, or the like.”
9to5Mac’s Take
That is an attention-grabbing patent that covers a broad vary of further options for the Apple Watch and its accent ecosystem. As all the time, it’s necessary to recollect the disclaimer: Apple patents something and all the things, so simply because one thing is patented doesn’t imply it can ever see the sunshine of day as an precise function.
The pessimist in me is inclined to assume Apple’s most certainly use of this functionality is for cracking down on third-party knockoff watch bands.
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