Apple's smart ring may become a reality. Which is the way out for iRing?

Recently, a patent of Apple named "Device and method for ring computing device" was exposed. Simply put, this is actually a design patent for a smart ring.

Currently, the patent has been approved. If all goes well, this idea, known as "iRing", may become the second wearable product launched by Apple after Apple Watch.

Different from the original products in the technology world such as iPod, iPhone, Macbook, etc., successful wearable devices often need to cut in from a certain angle and complete the intelligent upgrade of traditional products through practical and reliable function settings. So, based on the information revealed by the patent, combined with Apple's product layout and the current cases of various smart rings, what kind of positioning will iRing aim for?

Somatosensory control

The patent documents show that voice, motion and touch input can be used to control or interact with larger computing devices.

This description reminds us of the smart remote control that Apple has equipped for the new generation of Apple TV. The remote control features such as Siri voice assistant, touch screen sliding design, and somatosensory control are almost identical to the iRing design. From the demonstration at the Apple press conference, it can be seen that in addition to controlling the basic operations of the TV, the remote control can also handle some lightweight home entertainment games developed specifically for Apple TV.

Since there are already remote controllers in the field of large-screen control, will this smaller control device match the small-screen device? In other words, this smart ring may be positioned as a remote control device for mobile devices such as iPad and iPhone, which also means that more flexible somatosensory control methods may be introduced into mobile games. At TGS 2015, a mobile game control ring called Ring ZERO was exhibited.

In addition, electrical equipment manufacturer Fujitsu has released a smart ring that supports gesture control and mid-air writing. Users can input content into the device by simply gesturing in the air. Similar to this is the Nod gesture ring developed by Nod Lab. With the built-in motion sensor, iRing can also have this input control function.

Mobile Payment

The patent published this time does not include details related to payment. However, in a document about iRing written by Topeka Capital Markets analyst Brian White to investors in 2013, there is a description of this function: when you use GPS or iBeacon technology, the device allows you to authorize mobile payments by simply setting a check mark gesture. Just gesture the number to be paid and the other party can pay.

(Note: iBeacon is a set of Bluetooth technology standards based on BLE developed by Apple for iOS mobile devices)

Mobile payment has always been a battleground for terminal manufacturers including Apple. Apple Vice President Jennifer Bailey said at this month's Code/Mobile conference that Apple will continue to promote the popularity of mobile payment. According to data from Aite Group, traditional retailers are not very receptive to Apple Pay, and this mobile payment service accounts for only 1% of the US retail market.

On the other hand, the development of near-field communication technologies such as NFC and Bluetooth has made mobile payments not only possible through mobile phones, tablets and other terminals. Smart watches, bracelets and rings have also joined this field. Kerv, which was crowdfunded on Kickstarter, is such a smart ring. Users can complete payments in supermarkets, buses and other scenarios by bringing it close to the payment receiver. At present, Kerv has deployed tens of millions of payment outlets around the world.

If aiming at convenient payment, iRing may be able to help Apple Pay.

Health Monitoring

iRing has built-in GPS and biometric sensors, supports mapping and step counting functions, and can record the user's heart rate, which is very similar to the Apple Watch that focuses on health.

Medical monitoring is an area where Apple has made in-depth layout. CEO Cook once said that the functions of Apple Watch are not limited to fitness, but will affect the medical industry. In addition to Apple Watch as the entrance to big data medical care, Apple has also released the HealthKit mobile health platform and ResearchKit medical research platform on this front.

Compared with watches, rings can be worn for a longer period of time, which is conducive to long-term tracking of human health information. Many manufacturers have launched smart ring products based on this, such as Oura, which focuses on sleep monitoring, and Xinmai smart ring, which is famous for its "pulse diagnosis" function.
If iRing focuses on this, it may become another health data portal alongside Apple Watch.

Technology and Fashion

From the appearance, analyst Matt Webb believes that iRing looks more like a 21st century seal ring. Unlike other technology products, wearable devices require higher decorativeness, which is determined by the inherent properties of the product. Apple has never been shy about this and is even good at it.

Design-driven is one of the reasons why Apple has achieved success. At the launch event in September this year, Apple launched the Hermès special edition Apple Watch, which consists of a leather strap handmade by Hermès and a customized Apple Watch. Apple, with the label of technology, is becoming more and more familiar with the application of fashion and light luxury.

The ring itself is a kind of decoration, and good smart design does not interfere with the essence of the product. Ringly is a smart ring designed for female users. It looks no less than traditional jewelry and has call and text message reminder functions. ZTE, which is probably not considered fashionable in the impression of consumers, has also launched a Charm Ring R1 smart ring, which is equipped with a rechargeable jewelry box and a selfie control function.

If iRing takes the fashion route, will celebrities customize a pair of "Apple smart diamond rings" for their weddings in the future?

It seems that as long as the iRing patent is not aborted, its future is always bright. After all, with Apple as its "real father", there is no need for it to consider the "way out" issue. However, from another perspective, the tiny iRing has received so much attention in its embryonic stage, so it is bound to have a long way to go after it is born.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.