Apple iWatch Could Help Fix Maps, Prevent Lost iPhones

Bruce Tognazzini, a former Apple employee who specializes in human-computer interaction, suggests that an Apple iWatch could bring numerous advancements including improved Maps.

Writing on askTog, Tognazzini says that crowdsourced pressure data from iWatches could be very helpful in determining the accuracy of Map data.

"Because most of the time, most of the people’s arms will be within four feet of known roadways (or rail beds), one can, over time, correct for both local barometric pressure and current GPS error (the GPS, of course, being in the phone, not the iWatch—GPS requires significant power)," Tognazzini writes. "Given that data, one can then look for where current map data and people’s actual locations consistently vary, specifically where people appear to be either diving below or floating above the surface of the earth. If everyone is dropping below nominal ground level, they must be in a cut."


Here's some other benefits of an Apple iWatch that Business Insider has summarized:

● Apple can solve the "having-to-remove-the-watch-from-your-arm-problem" by implementing wireless charging, which the company holds a patent for.
● Apple's patent for curved glass screens could help reduce the clunky factor.
● Siri will be able to handle complex tasks reducing the need for buttons or complicated menus.
● You could see who is called without needing to take out your iPhone.
● It could eliminate the need for typing in passwords on Apple devices.
● You may never lose your iPhone again because the iWatch will alert you if you start moving out of range.
● An iWatch could function as a fitness tracker using sensors to determine calories burned, miles traveled, and blood pressure.
● You could swipe an iWatch to make payments using NFC or other technologies.
● It would be great for music listening.
● The iWatch would work great as a remote control via Siri.
● Apple could use the iWatch to fix its maps by using crowdsourced pressure data.

There have been numerous iWatch concepts that have surfaced in the past. Apple itself released an iPod nano that functioned as a watch; however, despite its popularity among many it was replaced by a larger iPod nano last year.

Check out some interesting iWatch concepts here:
● Pavel Simeonov
● Anders Kjellberg
● ADR Studio 2
● ADR Studio


Read More [via BusinessInsider]