Samsung's Patent Applications Indicate Possible Galaxy Ring and Augmented Reality Galaxy Glasses
Samsung's Patent Applications Indicate Possible Galaxy Ring and Augmented Reality Galaxy Glasses
A potential Samsung smart ring could be on the horizon, and I'm all for it. The company has submitted two new patent applications to the Korean Intellectual Property Right Information Services, labeled as Galaxy Ring and Galaxy Glasses. This might also indicate the introduction of AR glasses, given Samsung's focus on extended reality.
The patent for the Galaxy Ring describes it as a smart device, shaped like a ring, designed to monitor health indicators and sleep. There aren't many details, but given its integration with Samsung Health, we can infer its capabilities. It might even include a temperature sensor, as Samsung incorporated one into the Galaxy Watch 5. The temperature sensor on the latest smartwatch hasn't been activated yet, but Samsung has collaborated with Natural Cycles, a temperature-based cycle tracking app, with plans to launch the feature in Q2 of this year.
Samsung has been exploring the concept of a smart ring since at least 2015, but no products have materialized as of yet. Interest in the device increased towards the end of last year, following several additional patent filings, including one with the USPTO.
If Samsung does launch the Galaxy Ring, it will encounter stiff competition. The Oura Ring has been a popular choice for smart ring devices, alongside a few lesser-known brands. The Oura Ring can track steps, body temperature, and sleep, although reviewers have mentioned its installation can be tricky. How would Samsung overcome this challenge?
The patent documentation refers to the Galaxy Glasses as a "headset for virtual reality experience" and a "headset for augmented reality experience." The mention of a headphone is included in the filing, but the intended market for these glasses remains unclear. Most AR glasses have been targeted towards the enterprise sector, with Lenovo producing the ThinkReality glasses that tether to a computer, and Google Glass being utilized on factory floors. We're curious if Samsung's AR glasses will be marketed directly to consumers, similar to the rumored next version of Google Glass, and if it will indeed mark a significant step in Samsung's vision for "extended reality."
The Galaxy Ring, as proposed by Samsung in their patent, could revolutionize health monitoring in the tech-driven future, potentially integrating a temperature sensor like the one in the Galaxy Watch 5. In the realm of technology, Samsung's focus on extended reality could potentially lead to the launch of consumer-oriented AR glasses, challenging established players in the market.