Suddenly all the leading gadget manufacturers appear determined to develop watches. We
reported earlier this week that both Apple and Samsung are reportedly developing smartwatches. These watches could receive information from a person's smartphone. It is also possible a smartwatch could do everything a smartphone can on its own.
Computerworld reports that Google also has a smartwatch in the works. This would be an Android powered watch. Google was awarded a
patent for a smartwatch on October 2, 2012. The patent describes a watch that can be configured to connect to a wireless network. Here is an excerpt from the patent description:
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.
Another part of the patent says the watch include a touch screen display. The patent also says the watch could include a camera. There are going to be some interesting watches on the market in a year or two. The watch could also potentially interact with Google's upcoming smart glasses, Google Glass.
