According to a Bloomberg report, a team of 100 product designers at Apple Inc. are working on a wristwatch-style digital device.
Apple has filed at least 79 patent applications with the word “wrist”, including one for a kinetic-powered device with a flexible screen.
Its features are rumored to include geographical location services, a pedometer counter and sensors for monitoring health-related data, such as heart rates.
This foray into wristwatches would open up competition with Google in the area of wearable technology, as Google is also moving forward with its development of Google Glass.
According to Oliver Chen, a luxury retail analyst at Citigroup Inc., “This can be a US$6 billion opportunity for Apple, with plenty of opportunity for upside if they create something totally new like they did with the iPod—something consumers didn’t even know they needed.”
The report also notes that Apple's lead designer, Jony Ive, has a keen interest in watches—the owner of many fancy watches, it is said that he and his team have visited watch factories for research.
What do you think? Could this be the start of a new era for Apple?
[via Business Insider]