iSpecs: Apple’s New iPhone Glasses Discovered in Patent Filing

Rumors about a new potential product from Apple are running wild.  A patent for 3D iPhone glasses was released in August of 2008, but the idea was considered so absurd that when the company published it in April, it was first dismissed as an April Fool’s Day prank. Nicknamed “iSpecs” by Apple tech fans, the design is pretty out there Decked out with everything from 3D optics to a camera to let the wearer have a “picture in picture” view of what’s going on around them, it’s very sci-fi futuristic.

Since it’s implausible that the US Patent and Technology Office would be “in on” a hoax, and April Fool’s Day is well behind us, it’s clear these specs are for real (at least, in patent form – Apple has not announced anything specifically related to them, yet). If the final product ends up being as cool as it could be, it would mean that the next best thing to a Star Trek holodeck should be on the market before too long. What all is this thing going to be rigged to do? Patently Apple broke down the patent drawings and probable functions, and here are the key points:

Figure 3A from Apple's Patent Application

Cameras

Patent figure 3A (above) includes a tiny hole marked “306” that’s probably the designated spot for a camera. Imagine: Whilst watching Avatar 3D on your new iSpecs, you can also watch your immediate surroundings on a small “picture in picture” screen if you wish. Cool, huh?

Haptic Devices

Haptic technology engages its users through their sense of touch. Often used in tandem with surround sound, the effect can be significant. Imaging watching an airplane on your iPhone glasses screen as it flies from the left side to the right side. Whereas in a theater, you’re limited to surround sound adding depth to the experience; the iPhone glasses could create a series of small vibrations along your right temple from front to back to bring to life the experience of plane leaving your visual field.

3D

Because the images are being projected from so close to the eye, and because they’re already split up into two distinct images (one for each eye), iSpecs will be a very natural format for 3D media. Additionally, the glasses may come with sensors to read the distance to the wearer’s eyes, since everyone’s face is shaped a little bit differently.

So when can you buy them?

Because so far this is just a patent, it’s really too soon to get worked up about the iSpecs at this point. That said, it’s one to watch, for sure. 3D movies are just the beginning with a device like this; the potential for gaming is astounding, and the future will tell if normally mundane activities like browsing the internet are of the cusp of a major technological transformation.

More information:

Apple files ‘in your face’ iPhone patent

Apple Reveals Next Steps in Cool Video Headset Project

Related posts:

1. Forget Your Reading Glasses? Use Your Phone!
2. 3D Game Sans Glasses