Apple's new patent: Apple Ring can control smart home through gestures

Apple has reportedly released a new patent that suggests the Apple smart ring may use a series of gesture controls, which would allow users to point the finger wearing the smart ring at another device to send commands.

We've heard about the Apple Ring in previous patents, which suggest it will feature biometric sensors, Siri connectivity and a small touchscreen, as well as the first mention of gesture control and a tiny display.

But the new patent suggests that users could use gesture controls to connect the Apple Ring to whatever device the wearer is pointing at - so if you wanted to link to your Apple TV, you could just point at it with your ring finger.

The patent lists other features that the gestures could control on other devices, such as changing the volume, user interface, or even adjusting the temperature or brightness of lights, hinting at how the Apple Ring could interact with smart home appliances, not just Apple's lineup of devices.

The Apple Ring might not only use hand gestures. The patent mentions that the wearable device could also interact with other devices using a touchscreen, voice control, or a physical dial. In any case, commands could be transmitted via near-field communication (NFC), which the tech giant already uses for Apple Pay.

There's broader potential in the patent, too, like using Apple Ring to send a message to a "second user" through their own Apple Ring.

What is the Apple Ring used for?

This second appearance supports our suspicion that the Apple Ring could function as a mini Apple Watch. While we’ve seen other ring-shaped peripherals, there have been no suggestions that they could directly control other devices in the same way.

For example, the Amazon Echo Loop is really just a wearable microphone for Amazon's Alexa voice assistant. Of course, in theory, you can also use it to control your smart home, but only if you route each device through Alexa first.

As mentioned above, the Apple Ring could be a more intuitive way to control each device individually, pointing at it and making gestures (e.g., twisting it clockwise) to increase speaker volume or light brightness. As a result, you could conceivably have to get close to a device to control it via NFC, while Alexa could theoretically adjust linked devices from a distance.

The Apple Ring, then, could be an alternative to the Apple Watch that relies more on immediacy and ease of use with gestures rather than having to sift through menus. It presents a novel, intuitive way to control countless home devices, which may be a relief for those who are frustrated by how many apps and systems are needed to connect and control a smart home.

Of course, this is just a patent at the moment, and it is still unknown whether it can actually enter the market.