The Apple Watch Might Be Getting a Camera

Even when they are quietly filed, they get exposed if they are Apple patents. The latest Apple patent deals with the Apple Watch and how it might fit a camera in the future.

Imagine taking a photo with the Apple Watch. It's a different concept than how some watches do cameras, where they allow you to use the device as a camera remote for your phone. The patent shows that Apple has been researching how to fit a camera into the Apple Watch. The idea is to point your wrist out and let the watch camera take the shot instead of reaching into your bag or pocket for a phone.

You can see part of the patent here. The summary of what the patent entails is straightforward.

A watch having a camera is disclosed. The watch can include a housing having a front side, a back side, and an attachment interface configured to couple to a watch band. A camera can be mounted to the housing and configured to capture a picture of a scene through the back side of the housing. A display can be visible through the front side of the housing and configured to display the picture.

According to Patently Apple, the Apple Watch camera mechanism wouldn't just be a point-and-shoot situation, it would also be able to do that. An accessory with a release mechanism would allow you to move the watch around to take photos, like a digital camera. The digital crown is still used to navigate the Apple Watch interface. A camera flash to the scene would allow for a photo to be taken.

Pets and toddlers who move with such speed that the moment is gone by the time you whip out your phone are the ones who would use this thing. A camera on the wrist could help. It would be helpful if there was a car accident that required some visual evidence. Technology can do this factor and it's neat.

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AppleInsider reported that one of the original inventors of the Apple Watch's digital crown, Tyler S. Bushnell, is included on the patent listing, which could mean that this is the real deal. The Apple Watch with a built-in camera is a theoretical. Having a patent doesn't mean that an Apple idea will see the light of day.