Search giant Google is said to be "actively exploring the smartwatch market. A source told Business Insider that the company is specifically looking at the potential methods of marketing a smartwatch.
Back in October of 2012, Google was granted a patent for a smartwatch with a flip-up display. The filing, seen below, said the watch (shown as a concept in the image above) would be able to perform a variety of actions, including offering directions, obtaining product information and displaying e-mail notifications.
Consumers have registered an interest in the lucrative smartwatch market: Pebble, a Bluetooth-powered smartwatch, raised record funds of more than $10 million on Kickstarter and the product is already shipping. Apple, meanwhile, is said to be preparing the iWatch.
Google has already invested in the wearable computing market with its Google Glass project, which may sport a laser keyboard. According to Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster, wearable computing devices could replace smartphones over the next decade.
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Zak Islam is a freelance writer focusing on security, networking, and general computing. His work also appears at Digital Trends and Tom's Guide.
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wannabepro Screen is too small. Unless you could control it with your mind.... That would be cool!Reply -
kjoz Interesting idea, but it will never beat a nice watch that has been hand made in a small alpine village in Switzerland!Reply -
dimar Bendable screen watch around the wrist is the only kind of watch that might interest me :-)Reply -
cats_Paw James bond S.it!Reply
But i still like my Casio with that cool ilumination when you press the right button! -
virtualban What I wish for google to pursue is retina displays, of the kind that project directly to the retina, and be quick to patent the idea before apple does it.Reply
http://futurama.wikia.com/wiki/EyePhone -
g00fysmiley as long as the battery life is good i would be interested in a perephial watch to see txtx and notifications onReply -
CrArC kjozInteresting idea, but it will never beat a nice watch that has been hand made in a small alpine village in Switzerland!I must admit "Hastily glued together by an underpaid factory worker in Shenzen" doesn't sound as snazzy as the Swiss alternative.Reply
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Pherule Unfeasible for 2-handed typing, but otherwise a nice idea. The only other immediate problem would be radiation. Are they going to put a thin layer of lead at the bottom to shield your wrist from radiation?Reply
Also:
Computers - one small leap from typewriters
Laptops - one small leap from computers
Smartphones - one small leap from laptops
Smartwatches - one small leap from smartphones
Microchip imbedded in your skin - one small leap from smartwatches
Do not like where this is going. I'd sooner embed a bullet into my skin than a microchip. We aren't animals.