Wrist Sensors
According to recent filings, Apple has developed a new strap for the Apple Watch—and potentially other devices starting with the Vision Pro. The document describes it as a smart health and communication band for the Apple Watch and a future headset
.
This accessory would be made of stretchable fabric and perform health measurements such as blood pressure, respiratory rate, and heart’s electrical activity (electrocardiogram). In 2019, the company already secured a similar patent (named Fabric-based items with stretchable bands
). Another patent in 2020 involved concealing batteries within an Apple Watch band.
A Super Smart Washable Textile
This device could be worn elsewhere besides the wrist (a stretchable fabric headband or any other wearable item comprising stretchable fabric… with an opening configured to fit around a part of a user’s body
): an armband, an elastic belt, or even a sports garment. Depending on the physical activities, this could prove much more convenient, although Apple seems more likely to venture into straps than clothing.
Apple has also considered some details; the article could be designed to withstand relatively high temperatures such as those associated with washing clothes
(which is preferable if worn during sports). It mentions, for example, super capacitors for energy storage and other electrical components that can be washed in hot water and dried in a tumble dryer without damage
! Additionally, other pages note that this accessory could also be used for wireless charging and communication with other devices.