Apple may have just created a watch band for the future. The tech giant has been granted a patent for a color-changing watch band – and it’s unbelievable.
Apple’s patent describes the band using electrochromic elements, which are materials that can change color, opacity and contrast when continually exposed to a small electric current.
The most common example of this technology in everyday life is auto-dimming rear-view mirrors in cars. A light sensor detects when you are being blinded from behind and activates an electric current that reduces the opacity of a film or glass layer covering the mirror.
This same technology can now be used to display different colors in a watch band too.
The patent describes the watch band with a three-stripe design, in which the color of each strip can be independently adjusted. That would allow both solid colors and stripe patterns to be displayed. The bands also have the capability to interweave electrochromic elements into the fabric.
The patent also states that “users may desire the ability to customize their watch bands to express variety and style. For example, a user may desire a watch band of a particular color based on the user’s selection of clothing, other wearable articles, environment, or another preference.”
An illustration shows an Apple Watch app for controlling the colors and patterns, and this then being activated in the band. Even further, according to the patent, the watch band is able to display “icons, shapes, and text” and using band color changes to signify notifications.
While this technology has been around for a while, the application Apple’s patent describes is more advanced than what we’ve seen before.
Apple does sell interchangeable watch bands which could be seen as a source of profit for the company, so if this patent does ever become a reality it might be expensive, but it could be the revolutionary trendsetter everyone has been looking for.
What do you all think? Would you be willing to wait and see if Apple can make this patent into a reality and invest in this revolutionary product? You can let us know in the comments below and together we can look forward to what the future of technology can hold!
