A patent has been discovered that provides insight into the practicability of the Facebook Watch’s detachable display. It is rumored that this wearable device runs Wear OS and has functionality for communications, health and fitness, and numerous cameras. The launch is anticipated to take place in the summer of 2022.
An article written by The Information at the beginning of the year 2021 was the source of the very first piece of information regarding Smartwatches. Four “individuals with direct knowledge of the device” are cited in this. It would appear that the device is the result of an endeavor on the part of the search engine to gain a foothold in what is anticipated to be one of the following computing platforms after smartphones.
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What we already know about the Facebook smartwatch
Social media platforms have become increasingly important in many people’s daily lives. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are not going away anytime soon, whether this is for the better or for, the worse.
The vast majority of modern smartwatches ship with some form of built-in social media connectivity. In most cases, this results in app notifications appearing on your wrist. However, things may shift in the near future.
Facebook is considering developing its own version of the popular wristwatch. It would appear that Google’s Wear OS will be the initial operating system for the device. This will eventually be changed to Facebook’s own operating system for use on physical devices, but that transition won’t happen for some time.
You can anticipate that such a watch will have messaging capabilities and deep connectivity with various social media platforms. For instance, functionality is going to be expanded to allow “quick interactions” with other people who use Facebook.
The health and fitness industry will be well represented on the social media giant’s upcoming product. However, this may go beyond the capabilities of the standard sensors.
The public can now view a health technology patent that Facebook just registered. Electromyography (EMG) sensor integration with wearable electronics is the topic at hand here. EMG stands for electromyography, a technique that detects and analyzes the electrical impulses produced as a result of the contraction of a muscle. However, the patent isn’t really about health; it’s more about using the technology to regulate the information displayed on electronic displays.
Additionally, the company completed the acquisition of the neural interface startup CTRL-Labs in the year 2019.
“The bigger picture in relation to this watch is as follows: In 2019, Facebook shelled out close to one billion dollars in order to acquire CTRL-labs, a firm that was in the process of developing a wristband that could interpret brain impulses in order to control computer interfaces. CTRL-labs had been working on the project since 2019. According to Alexa Health from The Information has said, “Facebook intends to incorporate that technology inside the watch someday so it can operate its future AR glasses.”
All of this signals that the device’s smart capabilities and its connectivity with social media will not be its only selling point. And that it will be considerably different from the smartwatches that are now available on the market.
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Two cameras, one of which may be detached and used for both still and video photography
The Verge has included some of its own original research in this article. They discussed the matter with two individuals who were familiar with the project but preferred to maintain their anonymity.
These sources claim that the next watch would be equipped with not one but two cameras. Video calls can be made using the camera on the front of the watch’s display. A second camera will be installed on the back of the device. This one can be detached, and it has a resolution of 1080p and an auto-focus feature so that you can take high-quality photos and videos.
The concept behind this is to create a watch that users will be able to employ for the purpose of media capture and sharing on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. According to our sources, we will be encouraging other companies to develop adapters for items like backpacks, which will allow the camera to be attached.
The very first picture of the watch provides some evidence for this assertion. Back in October, it was discovered hidden inside the company’s iPhone software for operating its recently released Ray-Ban glasses.
A device with rounded corners and a camera that faces forward is depicted in the image. The camera is located at the bottom of the display. It’s safe to assume that’s the one used for video chats. On the device, there is one physical button on the right-hand side, and there may be another on the top of the cover.
In addition, the wrist strap that comes with the Facebook watch appears to be removable. It looks like there is a lot of screen real estate available, and the focus of the device itself is more on performance than aesthetics.
How the display could be removed from its housing
We now have some further evidence, which points to the cameras having a more extensive range of capability. LetsGoDigital has unearthed material from a patent that explains how this detachable capability would operate and how it would be implemented. The document, which is 49 pages long, was submitted to WIPO in June of 2021. (World Intellectual Property Organization). On January 13th, the patent was finally authorized and made public.
The filing shows that there is both a round and a square version of the Smartwatches. In terms of their functional capabilities, these options are virtually identical.
When it comes to the spherical version, the display (in addition to the camera) is electrically connected and held in place by powerful magnets, making it completely removable. This is what is known as a “first camera,” and it is equipped with one. You are able to switch it out for a different display altogether, one of which possesses a “second camera with distinct lenses.” The rotation mechanism then allows the user to select different camera lenses, such as a primary telephoto lens, wide angle lens, optical zoom lens, or fisheye lens. Both clockwise and counterclockwise rotation is possible with rotation.
The square model would function in a manner that is analogous to that described. However, the square-faced variant only has four of the five fixed places for the display, whereas the round-faced version has five.
The cameras can also be utilized for augmented reality, virtual reality, and mixed reality purposes, in addition to shooting photos and videos and making video calls. Including numerous lenses is necessary for this major reason because it opens up opportunities in virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality. The end goal is for the watch to be able to work in tandem with other virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices, such as a head-mounted display (HMD) or smart glasses. Facebook has not been coy about the enormous scope of its goals in this area.
In addition to that, the watch will be equipped with a sensor for monitoring the wearer’s heart rate, a sensor for monitoring the wearer’s body temperature, an infrared meter, a motion sensor, and activity recognition sensors. Based on the list, these fitness monitoring apps appear fairly good.
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Our thoughts on the possibility of a watch on Facebook
This is not Facebook’s first foray into the world of physical products. As a result of its acquisition of Oculus in 2014, it now has a strong position in the consumer virtual reality headset market. The company also sells devices called Portal, some of which include video chatting capabilities as well as a connection with Alexa. In conclusion, Facebook has just been introduced to the market with the Ray-Ban brand.
Is the watch that Facebook offers truly necessary? Perhaps not, but it appears like we are getting one. It would appear that the future device will be capable of more than only offering a deep interaction with Facebook. which is a very positive development. Based on the documentation that has been made public up until this point, it appears that an emphasis will be placed on alternate and virtual realities, which is a perfect fit with the mission statement of the organization, which is to construct a metaverse, also known as a shared virtual environment.
