Apple has patented "smart garments"

Would you believe an article of clothing that knows what you're doing?

Apple has filed a patent for something called "smart garments." We can only assume this refers to something that will add functionality to the Nike+ kit, as it describes "...a method of electronically pairing a sensor and a garment, comprising:(a) establishing a communication link between the sensor and the garment;(b) determining if the garment is an authorized garment; and© electronically pairing the garment and the sensor."

The main complaint about the current Nike+ kit is the lack of information that professional runners want, like GPS location, heart rate and so on. The interesting thing about this filing is that it could monitor things like shoe wear and geographic location.

Sounds pretty cool, right? Before you answer, check out point B above. "...Determining if the garment is an authorized garment." Many people who run in shoes other than Nikes would like to use the kit, which they can do with the help of a small pouch.

New Scientist suggests that clothing equipped with an RFID chip -- which is necessary for the transmitter/iPod paring -- could be embedded in "authorized" clothing, rendering the kit inoperable with, say, New Balance shoes (Steve's personal favorite).

Of course, it's common practice for large companies to copyright things they'll never use, so don't hold your breath for an iShirt.

[Via Macsimum News]

View Tags

Source: http://appft1.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=…

Categories

Apple Corporate Hardware Portables Rumors

Would you believe an article of clothing that knows what you're doing?Apple has filed a patent for something called "smart garments." We...

Add a Comment

Sign in »

11 Comments

Filter by:

Darren

"it's common practice for large companies to copyright things they'll never use,"

People don't "copyright" things anymore. If you create something, you have the copyright unless and until you assign it or it expires.

It *is* common practice for companies to patent things they never use, either because they haven't decided whether or not to use it, or because they've decided not to but don't want the competition using it either.

Please don't add to the copyright / patent confusion.

September 12 2008 at 1:40 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Chris

The old putting patents on t-shirts trick, eh? That's the second time I've heard about it this month. Would you believe it?

September 12 2008 at 7:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

ChrisM70

This might lead to clothing that knows whether you are wearing your flag lapel pin!

It's the only know to know which people are true Americans...

September 12 2008 at 1:32 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

mhale0

Isn't it possible that "authorized garment" simply means that the garment has been "paired" with the device, so as to avoid my sensor picking up sensors in other runners' garments?

September 12 2008 at 12:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Dean

I only want to say this:

Barbara Feldon is a goddamn, stone-cold fox.

September 11 2008 at 10:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to Dean's comment

Robert Nienburg

was.

September 12 2008 at 9:15 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Luigi193

Weird... I just finished watching an episode of Get Smart i just downloaded... then I opened up tuaw...

September 11 2008 at 9:44 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Philip from Australia