Apple thinks of video calls with Apple Watch | Now

Apple has patented a camera system for its Apple watch. By combining images, the company wants to avoid the disadvantages of smart cameras.

Apple got the patent on Tuesday, discovered AppleInsider . Apple describes a camera system on a smart watch made up of one or two wide-angle lenses on both the watch and the watch band.

Cameras continuously record images merged by the system. The result should be an image that is automatically centered on the subject.

This would work with the video call, for example. Apple states that traditional cameras from a watch provide "unflattering" images that drip into the nose because users do not hold it directly in front of their faces.

The Apple system would use facial recognition to capture the user's movements, and convert to a partially artificially composed view of the user's face.

Video calls without lifting the wrist

The video call appears to the receiver as if the caller was holding the camera right in front of his face, while this camera actually much lower. The caller's face would also remain silent on the photo, even if the watch was moved.

Recent iPhones and new iPad Pro models are already using a facial scanner, which allows users to let 3D emojis mimic their facial movements. Apple may wish to apply an adapted version of this technique.

Users can also film themselves with the system. Even in this case, images from multiple cameras are merged, so that accurate targeting is not necessary.

Although the patent was granted to Apple, it is not certain that the company will actually use this technique. Several other companies have previously added cameras to smart watches, but they have not hit them. Recent smartwatches do not usually have a camera.