Breakthrough Apple Gloves Are Coming (Here’s How They’ll Work)

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Apple has been exploring virtual and augmented reality technology since 2008 when it filed a patent for a personal display system. Over a decade later, the company is creeping closer to truly jumping into the virtual and augmented reality market with breakthrough physical devices.

Not only is Apple is rumored to be working on a pair of augmented reality smart glasses and a virtual reality headset, but it also has plans for a pair of virtual reality gloves.

If Apple Gloves work as they are described, they could be a game-changer. See our Apple Glove concept images below.

Apple Glove Fabric-Based Force-Sensing Technology

Much of what we know about Apple Gloves come from patents published this year and last year by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Apple may incorporate a type of force-sensing circuity woven directly into the fabric of the gloves. These force sensors detect when a person picks up an object and can relay that information to a computer, a VR headset, or other connected devices.

These force sensors could also be attached to a polymer substrate that bends and moves along with a person’s hand. As a person curls and straightens their fingers, they will exert force on these polymer-sensor combos.

These concept images are a visual representation of the
circuitry found inside of Apple Gloves.

The circuity then will relay that force information to the virtual reality device. It will be sensitive enough to detect even small movements of each individual finger and thumb.

This sensor-infused fabric allows the system to detect the movement of a person’s fingers and even when they don’t pick up an object. A user could simulate picking up a sword for a Fruit Ninja battle or typing in text in a virtual reality-based training session.

Augmented Reality and ARKit

Apple has been acquiring virtual reality companies for years and reportedly has a secret team of engineers and developers working on a variety of AR and VR technology.

Some of the fruits of that labor debuted with ARKit. This augmented reality system allows developers to build AR apps for iOS, including the new LiDAR scanner in Apple’s latest iPad Pro models.

Apple Glass

Apple is rumored to be working on a pair of augmented reality smart glasses with dual displays and support for hand gestures. The glasses will be marketed as an iPhone accessory and rely on the iPhone, much like the first-generation Apple Watch models.

These AR glasses may be designed to look like regular glasses and may even include prescription lenses. They could debut as soon as 2021 or 2022, with a starting price tag of $500.

Apple VR Headset

According to a report in The Information, Apple may be developing a virtual reality headset similar to the Oculus Quest. Not surprisingly, the Apple version is expected to be more comfortable and have “greater accuracy than existing devices on the market.”

Apple Glove Concept Images

Learn more about Apple Gloves here.

[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]

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