Smart rings seem to be all the rage when it comes to wearable tech, and Samsung is certainly galaxy ring.I recently wrote about how I was interested in the concept of this device.but I've also been thinking about how Apple could create its own ring to compete with Samsung.
It's not as far-fetched an idea as you might think.apple had fitness tracking ring patent After all, for a while. In addition to releasing its own ring, Apple has a way to stand out from its competitors by leveraging several related patents it has accumulated over the years.
First, let's take a look at what the other rings are currently doing. The Galaxy Ring has only been teased so far, so there's no real information about its features and capabilities. So the best example of how a ring tracker works is: Oura Ring.
Oura's main purpose is to monitor metrics such as heart rate variability (HRV), blood oxygen levels, body temperature, and sleep quality. The ring compiles this information and provides the wearer with a daily readiness score through the app. So what can Apple add to this market, and the market as a whole?
Apple is very good at designing wearables that go from being somewhat niche to being a staple of everyday life.Think about how prolific you are. apple watch Over the years, compare it to how it looked when it was first announced. The patents we've seen so far make it seem like Apple could do it again with a fitness tracking ring.
Patented possibility
Before we move on, the usual quick note about patents. Just because a company holds a patent doesn't mean the device will ever come out, or even that it's planned to happen. Companies obtain patents for a variety of reasons, but often just to keep it in their pocket or to prevent other companies from using the design.
Features you'd like to see
Vibration warning
However, one of the patents that Apple obtained (via Google patent) covers some interesting features including the vibration feature. When we discussed our expectations for the Galaxy Ring, we mentioned that we would like to see the device come with a vibration feature. We thought this could alert people to potential changes to their health in a way that would be hard to ignore, so the potential for the Apple Ring to offer this is very interesting.
gesture control
Another interesting potential feature is gesture control. Patented in April 2023 (via patent tree apple) Skin-to-Skin Contact Detection covers multiple ways to detect contact or movement gestures between two parts of the body. For example, when a thumb touches a finger, the electrodes can sense the movement and perform the associated action. The patent shows that Apple is developing technology that would allow the ring to recognize which device it is pointing to.
Gesture control, which can be connected to all Apple devices, is a very impressive way to add additional functionality to your Ring. This may be hinted at by another patent from Apple, albeit in the form of a controller for a VR headset.
Apple's current Vision Pro uses a camera to track your hand movements, so there's no need for a ring there. But imagine, without a remote, that with a wave of his hand he could point and scroll on his Apple TV, or scroll on his phone without touching the screen. Is it unnecessary? Perhaps, but it's certainly a great idea worth the price of admission.
Apple FindMy
Although I don't have any patents to back these up, there are some other features that I think Apple would be wise to add to the smart ring. For example, the Find My network that many Apple and third-party devices have used for the past few years. One of the biggest problems with things like rings is that they are very easy to lose. So having a ring that links to a huge device discovery network like Find My would be a huge improvement.
Features you don't want to see
However, there are some features I don't want to see. It is equipped with Apple Pay. Contactless payments on the Ring have already been proven as a concept with the McLEAR Ring. Other NFC features may also be included to help with things like wireless data transfer.
But the idea of holding the equivalent of a debit card on your finger is not a good idea. One of the big concerns I have is how easily contactless money transfers can be abused. Thankfully, this is not what Oura Ring does, and there's no evidence yet that Apple will consider it as a ring.
The Ring concept is definitely something Apple should consider, and if the patent is anything to go by, it already is. Competition with the Galaxy Ring may not be at the forefront of the technology race, but it's one that Apple has a good chance of winning. The patent suggests that Apple has some great building blocks, but it just needs to take a chance.
