Smartwatches don't seem to be as popular as I thought they would be, but I still think there's going to be a lot of growth in this area. It looks like Google might be thinking the same thing. A Nexus smartwatch just might create the excitement to get mainstream consumers to jump in. It so happens that in October 2011 a patent for a smartwatch was filed by James Brooks Miller and Richard Carl Gossweiler III on behalf of Google. What makes this smartwatch a little more interesting is that it would feature a transparent flip-up display. This flip-up display could be used to get information on buildings or landmarks that it sees or even to get directions.
This patent was just approved, and although this doesn't mean that Google will ever work on a Nexus smartwatch, I'm hopeful they will. Hit the break for the abstract.
Abstact
A smart-watch can include a wristband, a base, and a flip up portion. The base can be coupled to the wristband and include a housing, a processor, a wireless transceiver, and a tactile user interface. The wireless transceiver can be configured to connect to a wireless network. The tactile user interface can be configured to provide interaction between a user and the smart-watch. The flip up portion can be displaceable between an open position exposing the base and a closed position concealing the base. Further, the flip up portion can include: a top display exposed when the flip up portion is in the closed position, and an inside display opposite the top display. The inside display can be concealed when the flip up portion is in the closed position and be exposed when the flip up portion is in the open position.
If you want to read more, just hit the source link.
source: USPTO
via: Gizmodo
Wow! This would be sweet. 3 displays sounds like a battery nightmare though, I’d hate to have to plug in my wristwatch lol.