In the watchOS 10.1 update, Apple introduced a new “two-finger double-tap” gesture for the Apple Watch, which allows users to quickly perform a number of frequently used actions by simply tapping the index finger and thumb of the hand that’s wearing the watch twice in succession.
And according to a recently published listing from the U.S. Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO), Apple has been granted a new patent for “Motion and Gesture Input from a Wearable Device,” patent number US 11914772 B2, suggesting that Apple is exploring more Apple Watch gestures.
The patent generally relates to detecting movement and gesture input from a user in order to provide commands to one or more devices. Specifically, the device (i.e., the Apple Watch) can use one or more sensors to determine a user’s movements and gesture inputs based on the movements of the user’s hand, arm, wrist, and fingers.
Attached is an image of the patent below:
The Apple Watch can be equipped with multiple photodiode sensors that can detect gesture input and respond accordingly. Apple says this would play an important role in situations where users have limited ability to give verbal commands or touch gestures.
Below is a summary of Apple’s patent:
The present disclosure relates to detecting gesture input using an electronic device, such as a wearable device strapped to the wrist. The device may have a plurality of photodiodes, each of which senses light at a different location on the surface of the device facing the user’s skin.
Examples of the present disclosure detect gestures by recognizing patterns in the sensor data that characterize each gesture, as tissues expand and contract and anatomical features in the tissues move during the gesture.
