William Gallagher
Apple is continuing to investigate ways of making fabric touch sensitive so that it could embed controls or detect gestures on products far beyond Apple Watch bands or iPhone cases.
Previously, Apple has researched what it described as a fabric control device, where it was focused on just how to embed any controls into any fabric.
Now a newly-granted patent shows that the firm is pursuing this concept further. "Fabric Sensing Device" is about how to use the controls that get embedded in fabric — and also why this is all so desirable.
"Traditional electronic devices may include a variety of input devices, including buttons, keys, mice, trackballs, joysticks, and the like," says Apple. "Some traditional electronic devices may include a touch panel or touch screen that is configured to receive a touch input from a user."
"However, many traditional input devices and touch sensors are formed using rigid materials and/or a rigid substrate sheet," it continues, "and, therefore, may be limited to certain form factors."
Apple's attention is on using "touch-sensitive textiles" in order to add controls to "a variety of consumer products." The only use-case example shown patent application's drawings, though, is of a user touching their sleeve — as if the illustrator has forgotten to draw an Apple Watch band.
It's possible, then, that is exactly as far as Apple is interested in the idea. But perhaps in the same way that all patent applications try to cover every conceivable use of their proposal, Apple's list of devices that could use fabric controls does include more than just the Apple Watch.
"In particular," says Apple, "the devices and techniques described herein may be applied to a variety of textile materials that may be incorporated into consumer electronic products, articles of clothing, clothing accessories, handbags, upholstered items, household textiles, and other items that may include a textile component or element."
So you can bet that if this ever becomes a shipping product, it will be in a new range of Apple Watch bands.
But perhaps a MacBook Pro sleeve could display the laptop's current battery charge and give you a button to shut it down.
And it could also be in a seat cover on the Apple Car, or you could stroke the arm of your couch to control an Apple TV 4K.
Or less exotically, HomePods could have controls on the mesh fabric instead of requiring a touch panel at the top. Apple has previously investigated doing that, too.
The patent is credited to three inventors, all of whom were also listed on Apple's previous fabric control patent application.
Christine McKee
Stephen Silver
Charles Martin
Amber Neely
5 Comments
I would bet that when apple does one day introduce a new product that uses some of these technologies it will have nothing to do with smart clothing and all the tech gurus will look back at this and go, wow, the smart interior of the Apple Car, for example, was hidden in plain sight.
I would like to have clothing with passive radiative cooling please. At least a hat.
Eventually, solar PV can be layered into clothes, and theoretically, you can trickle charge your phone, earbuds, etc by putting them into your pockets. ;)
Looking at the Apple patent claims this seems extremely similar to the patents used for Project Jacquard circa 2015, and followup research and granted patents in 2019.
Since the passing of Jobs Apple has continued improving and trading on his visionary ideas. Now that train has pulled into the station and come to a halt. And Apple doesn't know what the next stop ought to be: a car, AR/VR, smart clothes, a broom that along with sweeping your kitchen also makes breakfast, a coffee maker that serves you breakfast in bed. One bone-headed nonsensical idea after another. There is a saying 'a fool and his money are soon parted'. That defines Apple which is fast becoming like Google. The latter has mountains of cash based on its sole hit - Search - and keeps coming up with stupid products that it kills even before they have launched in many cases.
The last great visionary alas died many years ago and now Apple is left flailing searching for the next big thing. And trust me it is not AI.
AI is about as revolutionary as large bin liners for your garden rubbish.
There is an ocean of difference between evolutionary and revolutionary.