Apple could add a camera to a future Apple Watch, according to a new report.
The Cupertino company has reportedly been looking into ways to add a camera lens onto the watch. Speaking in a patent filing, an Apple representative said: “The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible for the collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use of such personal information data will comply with well-established privacy policies and/or privacy practices.”
Of course, just because Apple has filed a patent for watch camera technology, it doesn’t mean it will happen. Apple regularly experiments with weird and wonderful ideas for future iPhones and Watches.
“Additionally or alternatively…a camera can be implemented as a back-facing camera configured to capture pictures through a backside of a watch housing,” the company said.
“The wrist may occlude the camera from taking pictures of a scene when the watch housing is worn on the wrist, the housing may be removable from the wrist via a release mechanism in the attachment interface, or by removing the housing together with the watch band, to capture pictures with the back-facing camera.”
The patent offers a number of explanations as to why you’d want a camera on your watch – one would be turning your watch into a viewfinder, a camera flash, and taking off the watch to take a proper photo.
Apple’s proposed that it would incorporate a camera into the digital crown of the watch face, an already-complicated piece of kit. If Apple did add a camera, there’d be lots of components to consider.
Would you benefit from a camera on your Apple Watch? Let us know and check back soon for more!
