Microsoft’s working on a smartwatch too, says this patent

By Christian Brazil Bautista May 6, 2014

new patent reveals possible microsoft smartwatch — Photo via Patent Bolt

A patent application published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has revived speculation that a long-rumored smartwatch from Microsoft is in the works. The documents, released last week, show a wearable device with built-in apps for measuring heart rate and calorie burn.

The patent application, spotted by Patent Bolt, highlights a Microsoft invention called a “Wearable Personal Information System.” Basically, it’s the whole watch minus the band. Through the invention, Microsoft claims to have solved two common problems with current smartwatches: the soiling of devices because of perspiration and the lack of real-time, biometric feedback while exercising.

To make cleaning the device easier, Microsoft incorporated a removable body to the design, allowing users to wash the band after exercising. While wiping off the grime of the day’s activities from the band, the removable body can be connected to a special dock for charging and connecting to a computer.

The personal information system shows three symbols:

Running: The running function tracks your current run length through the use of a built-in GPS unit.
Heart: The heart function displays the user’s current pulse rate.
Fire: The fire icon displays an estimate of the calories burned while working out.

Microsoft points out that the advantage of the wearable personal information system is that it presents users with more information as the workout is happening. Currently, to get biometric feedback while exercising, people have to wear external heartbeat sensors such as chest straps.

If Microsoft follows through with a smartwatch, it would make for some interesting jockeying in the fledgling wearable devices market. However, this is still not a sure thing. Just because there’s a Microsoft patent out there, doesn’t mean that the company will invest in it. Back in 2009, Microsoft filed a patent for a music player that was meant for its Zune brand. The device, which was meant to compete with the iPod Nano, was never released.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Christian Brazil Bautista

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Christian Brazil Bautista is an experienced journalist who has been writing about technology and music for the past decade…

Mobile

Sonos wins patent lawsuit, Pixel phones and other Google devices face sales ban

The Google/Sonos lawsuit just had a major development.

Google and Sonos have been locked in a long-drawn legal battle over patent infringement, with both parties suing each other over the years, but it appears that Sonos has finally gained an upper hand in that tussle. As per a report from The New York Times, a trade court has ruled that Google did violate laws by illegally using Sonos’ patented audio technologies used in smart home and audio devices.

A cease and desist order has been issued against Google by the United States Internation Trade Commission. As per the ruling, all products that infringe on patented technology should be banned from being imported into the United States. And the list of products that fall under the Sonos-Google battle is huge.

Features

Are smartwatches and fitness trackers making us more anxious?

Apple Watch 6 fitness monitor.

In a recent Apple Watch ad, one of the protagonists is shown taking an electrocardiogram (a test that can be used to check your heart's rhythm and electrical activity) on his watch while riding a bus, working at the office, and even while hanging out at a kids' pool party. The commercial’s message is clear: The latest Apple Watch is so powerful that you can run advanced medical tests anywhere in seconds. The question is: Do you need to?

Although smartwatches have made health insights more accessible than ever and motivated many to adopt fitter lifestyles, their rise has come at a cost. It has sparked a wave of anxiety among users who have become pathologically fixated and prone to over-diagnosing every alert from their wearables.
The rise of smartwatch-induced anxiety
Dr. Lindsey Rosman, a clinical health psychologist and an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, says her clinic has observed a growing number of patients with concerns about the information they receive from their smartwatches.

Mobile

The best Wear OS apps for your Google-powered smartwatch

Looking at a smartwatch using the Wear OS.

Some of the best smartwatches run Wear OS , and there are loads of apps that add all sorts of handy capabilities. A great Wear OS app does more than just send notifications to your wrist -- they entertain, track your fitness and health, help you to stay organized, and can indirectly save your phone's battery life, as you're checking your wrist rather than your phone's display.

With all of that in mind, here are our picks of the best Wear OS apps. Most of these apps still rely on a partner app on your smartphone, but a few offer stand-alone functionality. Either way, they're all must-haves for your Wear OS smartwatch.