Apple gets smart watch patent

San Francisco - A US patent made public on
Tuesday bolstered rumours that Apple has
designs on a smart watch.
"The invention pertains to an electronic
wristwatch," said a summary in Apple patent
paperwork on record with the US Patent and
Trade Office.
The patent describes a wrist band, possibly with
a touch screen, configured to connect wirelessly
to a mobile device such as a smartphone.
Disclosure of the patent added fuel to talk that
California-based Apple intends to weigh into the
blossoming wearable computing market with a
smart watch.
Apple has remained tight-lipped about product
plans, but chief executive Tim Cook has stated
repeatedly that impressive new products were in
the works, and that he sees the wrist as a
preferred spot for a wearable computing gadget.
"The central portion can include a touch screen
display, control circuitry and a battery," the
smart watch patent paperwork stated.
"The touch screen display can be configured to
present visual information to the user and to
receive user input from the user."
Features in the wristband could include sensors
for tracking motion and even being able to give it
commands with gestures, according to patent
paperwork originally filed at the end of January in
2011.
A diagram included in the application referred to
the device as "iTime".
Analysts along with Apple devotees have been
eagerly watching the company for a new "big
thing" that promises to be a must-have device.