Google’s Pixel Watch can be controlled from a “skin interface”.

A patent shows a new way to operate smartwatches and headphones.

is in November 2019 Google Wearable specialist acquisition Fitbit declare. Since then, rumors have been mounting that Google has its own smart watch will bring.

A patent has now surfaced (PDF) may contain a new reference to “pixel clock“be informed” LetsGoDigital, Google filed the patent in August 2020 and it was published in early March.

Smartwatch recognizes swiping gestures on the skin

The name of the patent isskin interface for wearable“- Skin interface for wearables. It suggests that the smartwatch can be operated by tapping and swiping on the left and right of the hand and the back of the hand. With in-ear headphones, it should be possible to wipe the head in front of the ear For example, swiping up turns up the volume, and swiping down turns down the music.

This is made possible by one or more accelerometers in wearables. These detect the “mechanical wave” that occurs when the skin is tapped or wiped.

Unobstructed view of smartwatch display

The advantage of this kind of input is clear: You can still see clearly across the smartwatch’s display because you don’t cover the small screen with your finger while swiping. The skin interface for wireless in-ear headphones also makes sense. Because there’s usually no swiping gesture with such earphones – they’re just too small for that.

Sony uses a similar system to them LinkBuds Headphones, You can’t wipe your skin here, but the headphones recognize when you pat your head in front of the ear. This is more convenient than directly tapping the headphones plugged into the ear.

As always with such patents, the following applies: wait and see and don’t rejoice too soon. It is possible that it will take a few generations of the Pixel Watch before the feature arrives. It may never be enforced – sometimes patents are filed to prevent competition from implementing such a feature.