Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware, Portables, Rumors
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]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Shunnabunich said 7:39PM on 9-11-2008
By "copyright things they'll never use", you mean "patent things they'll never use", right?
Reply
Kevin said 8:48PM on 9-11-2008
Thanks Shunnabunich, I'm glad at least one other person knows patents and copyrights aren't the same thing.
Reply
reallycrazyguy said 8:58PM on 9-11-2008
Just great. DRM for clothes. Just what the world needs.
Reply
Philip from Australia said 9:10PM on 9-11-2008
Sooo.. no smart-e-pants any time soon, then? :)
Reply
Luigi193 said 9:44PM on 9-11-2008
Weird... I just finished watching an episode of Get Smart i just downloaded... then I opened up tuaw...
Reply
Dean said 10:05PM on 9-11-2008
I only want to say this:
Barbara Feldon is a goddamn, stone-cold fox.
Reply
robogobo said 9:15AM on 9-12-2008
was.
Matthew said 1:04AM on 9-12-2008
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?
Reply
ChrisM70 said 1:32AM on 9-12-2008
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...
Reply
Grip said 6:06PM on 9-12-2008
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?
Reply
Darren said 1:41PM on 9-12-2008
"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.
Reply