Samsung Gear Wearable Rumors: Patent Reveals Hologram Feature For Smartwatches

Could Samsung’s upcoming smartphones include a hologram feature that allows users to project functional images like keyboards onto a nearby surface? A recently discovered patent demonstrates how users could even project aspects of a wearable on to body parts for further functionality.

The patent, which was published at the US Patent and Trademark Office May 5, includes many use cases for such a smartwatch feature. Users could project a keyboard onto their hand, or a long menu onto their arm. Users can also read text on their arm or use their hand as a surface to play games. The patent also demonstrates how users can project images onto walls or desks.

There is no word on whether Samsung would implement such a feature on wearables that are rumored to launch soon, including the Gear S3 and the Gear Fit 2; however, patents often give clues about what manufacturers have planned for future devices. Even so, there have been rumors about manufacturers, including Samsung, making holographic keyboard features for smartphones for many years, but such a feature has yet to be introduced.

Perhaps features like projected screens would be more beneficial for wearables, which are expected to overtake smartphones in the next five to 10 years. Gabe Grifoni, CEO and co-founder of the wearables company Rufus Labs, told iDigitalTimes in April that when the wearable market finally explodes, devices will have a host of designs and functionalities. But for now, Samsung’s blueprint indicates how its feature could work on a smartwatch.