Apple has filed a patent that outlines the potential for expanding its Fall Detection technology from the Apple Watch to other wearable devices. These include the upcoming Vision Pro, a new line of Apple Glasses, and even smart contact lenses.
The patent suggests that such wearables could offer enhanced effectiveness over the Apple Watch’s current system for two main reasons…
Fall Detection
The Fall Detection feature utilizes the Apple Watch’s integrated accelerometer and gyroscope to identify a sudden fall.
It first alerts the user by tapping their wrist and displaying a notification, prompting them to confirm their safety or contact emergency services. If there is no response and the user remains inactive for one minute, the device will automatically call 911, providing the exact location and notifying the operator of the fall and unresponsiveness.
The Fall Detection feature has reportedly saved numerous lives, with the following examples serving as just a glimpse:
Patently Apple noted the recent patent that describes how Fall Detection can be utilized in various other wearable technologies.
Apple’s filed patent expands the capabilities of Fall Detection to future iterations of Vision Pro headsets, smartglasses, and even smart contact lenses.
Integrating this functionality into such wearables could prove even more beneficial, primarily because they could monitor whether the user’s eyes are open or closed and detect pupil dilation.
This pertains to systems and methods for tracking biometric data triggered by detected movements of the electronic device, specifically focusing on monitoring pupil dilation and signs of unconsciousness based on specific movements of the device.
Moreover, devices equipped with external cameras could relay vital information to emergency services, offering either a view of the user’s environment or a description of it.
Furthermore, initiating an emergency response automatically (e.g., providing a description or summary of the user’s surroundings) based on the second biometric data indicating a potential loss of consciousness reduces the required inputs for transmitting an emergency call, thereby conserving power and computing resources of the device.
Apple envisions wearables like the Vision Pro headset, Apple Glasses, and even smart contact lenses in this context.
The electronic device may include … a head-mounted system/device or a projection-based system/device (including holographic devices) capable of generating and displaying a three-dimensional environment, such as heads-up displays (HUDs), head-mounted displays (HMDs), and integrated display capabilities designed for lenses that rest on a person’s eyes (e.g., similar to contact lenses).
DMN’s Take
The Fall Detection feature is undoubtedly valuable, and it’s evident that its application in these types of wearables could enhance its utility.
The patent makes a singular mention of contact lenses, and it’s typical for Apple to encompass a broad spectrum of devices in its filings. Nevertheless, one can hope that such technology will become a reality in the future!
Photo by Arteum.ro on Unsplash
