When patent number 20100079356 was published on the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) website at the beginning of this month(1st April 2010), it was first assumed that it was an April Fool joke. But now it appears that plans for Apple to develop electronic spectacles that will allow the wearer to watch 3D films on the move are more rooted in reality than it at first seemed.
They point to the fact that the patent application was filed in September 2008. If the spectacles are indeed in development they will revolutionize the way films can be enjoyed on Apple’s major products - the iPod, iPhone and iPad - which currently suffer from the fact that they all have relatively small screens.
The document shows how users would slot their iPod or iPhone, on which the film is shown, into the head-mounted gadget. A lens in the glasses then projects the image so that it can be viewed comfortably. The device would be fitted with a camera that would stream video of the outside world into a smaller screen in the glasses. If someone approaches the user or tries to get their attention, this would be detected by infrared sensors and the video stream would pop up inside the glasses, allowing the wearer to see what is happening.
The company hopes this will enable people to feel comfortable about wearing the device in public situations, such as when travelling on a train or an aircraft. The concept of allowing consumers to watch films on the inside of a pair of glasses is not new, and a small number of companies already provide products that can be plugged into an iPod. However, the images shown are not three-dimensional and the quality of the viewing experience has been criticized.
By fitting sensors and cameras to help the wearer remain aware of what is going on around them, Apple hopes they have overcome this problem.
Courtesy: www.nzherald.co.nz