IBM smartwatch patent shows a strange, foldable device
Smartwatches by the leading companies in the market all have a relatively similar design concept, resembling a standard or digital hand watch with additional features that are meant to make your everyday life easier and more convenient. IBM has filed a patent named “variable display size for an electronic display device” which seems to be for an IBM smartwatch that is going to have a foldable screen that transforms it into a tablet on your wrist.
The patent of the IBM smartwatch, discovered by LetsGoDigital, was used to create a more realistic photo render. The design is indeed very strange. The watch face consists of eight mini-screens that can be folded on top of each other into a single screen which does not look as strange at first, just a bit thicker than what we are used to seeing. But, the screens can also be opened up into two larger screen size options that use four or eight mini screens.
The patent does not point out how the smartwatch is intended to be worn, that is, whether users are supposed to take it off their wrist when the screen is unfolded, or keep it there. Based on the renders, the screen seems quite sizeable and thin when completely folded out.
This doesn’t really seem like the most convenient thing to carry around but IBM might have a greater idea for it that we can even imagine just based on the patent filing. The patent also doesn’t specifically mention the watch strap that is shown in the photo of the filing which might mean that the device won’t even be a smartwatch, but rather a foldable tablet that you can just put in any pocket on the go.
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