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Google patents smart watch with flip-up, transparent display

Google's potential smart watch offers some cool possibilities
Google's potential smart watch offers some cool possibilities

It was not long ago that the internet was going crazy over Google's Project Glass, and now Google has our attention again with the patent of a "smart watch." This watch appears to use technology similar to the glasses, but with a flip-up touchscreen instead of lenses.

From the looks of things, this watch would present notifications and other information transmitted from your smartphone right to your wrist. Let's be honest, a quick look at Kickstarter would let you find tons of watches that do this very thing. Google's potential watch stands out, however, because of the transparent screen that could "see" objects around you.

So what does this mean for real-world applications? The watch could offer GPS functions based on a landmark it detects around you. The watch could also detect small objects around you, so if you focused it on a product in a store, it could give you more information, which could prove quite useful.

Something like this could also have some serious income potential for Google. Imagine you focus on a new speaker system, and Google shows you retailers listing the item online for lower than where you are currently. Google could leverage this technology as a way to incorporate its ad services in the real world.

Doom and gloom of potential advertisements aside, this could prove to be an exciting piece of technology, if it ever sees the light of day. It could also be another one of those cool patents that stay just that – a patent. What do you think? Would you own a smart watch?

Source: USPTO via Engadget

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5 comments
Rt1583
Let's see, a smart watch that sends/receives information to/from your smart phone that is generally located on your person makes about as much sense as a remote control for your car stereo.
Maybe they could make smart glasses that link to your smart watch that links to your smart phone. This way instead of going through the laborious process of lifting your arm, flipping up the screen and targeting that which you desire information on, you simply have to look at it.
Mike Hill
Perhaps it is not the "smartphone" element that is exciting as much as it is the augmented reality interface. Instead of wearing the AR Glasses that will either fly off your head or be left at the pub, or holding your now 4.87" smartphone up to your face for an AR overlay, you can use the flip lens on your strapped on wrist watch to gain an informed view of what is going on around you.
While it is not as conducive to taking home videos of your child swinging from your arms, it certainly presents other advantages as a completely different AR product. Among other things the hardware is less susceptible to loss and it is less obtrusive/threatening to others in social environments,. Now, if they could only get the ergonomics just right so when I lift my palm to the side of the temple the lens aligns perfectly with my eye, perhaps a rotating bezel... ;c)
Gadgety
I used the SonyEricsson MBW-150 for about 5 years. The best thing was to receive messages, and vibration alerts discreetly. I think it makes even more sense today with the larger phones with screens of 4.7+ inches. I always talk with a headset anyway, and don't need to take the out the phone to make or receive calls. So, yes, I welcome Google's device.
Jay Lloyd
@Rt1583 They're way ahead of ya...
http://www.gizmag.com/google-x-augmented-reality/22072/
Snatr
I like the idea of a connected watch myself. Although not so much the flip up bezel idea. I was looking into the Sony watch not long ago, but it seemed to have a lot of issues. And speaking of Sony I'm thinking they might try and sue the developer. But as far as running a camera, I would say that's when it's time to pull out the phone. I definitely would consider the idea of using voice commands though.