The Apple Watch 2 is one of the highly anticipated products from the Cupertino-based tech giant, and there have been many rumors going around about the wearable device so far. The latest include a modular design and additional hand and body gestures, which may or may not be recognizable by the upcoming watch. Moreover, several more other functions are speculated.
Patently Apple has uncovered several documents from Apple that were recently published by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The company has applied for patents for several advanced gestures, and basic sign language was already included to be recognized.
A very basic flowchart included in one of the documents shows that the future watch will be able to detect the movements by its user. From here, it will be able to determine what specific gesture its wearer is performing, then it looks for matches in its own database, and if the watch figures out that it has a match, it will then execute the specific command. The future watch can recognize the fingers, the hand, the wrist and the whole arm.
A palm-down and doing a pat-like gesture equates to declining a phone call, while an up or down movement can bring the volume level higher or lower, as Valuewalk added. Persons with disability may be able to use the future watch.
Additionally, the patent also highlights sensors built within the wristband. These include a couple of optical, inertial, mechanical and myoelectrical sensors, Jobsnhire reported.
The granting of a patent does not necessarily mean that it will be a feature of the rumored Apple Watch 2.
Other speculations for the Apple Watch 2 include an upgraded watch OS (possibly version 3), better battery management, better display quality, better processor, GPS sensor and camera. Many are also expecting that the upcoming Apple Watch will be more independent from the iPhone.
As for the reveal date, it is anticipated to be revealed in June, during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference or together with the rumored iPhone 7 in September.
All of these are rumors only and Apple has not commented on any of them.
