Apple socks—who’d have thought it? AppleInsider has brought to our attention yet another of Apple’s legendary patents approved by the US Patent & Trademark Office. We didn’t think last week’s Apple Ring patent could be topped out so quickly, but it would seem Apple is trying to extend its ecosystem to our wardrobes with sensor-fitted footwear.
The hybrid concept where both sock and platform have fittings
The purpose of these socks would be to provide touch simulation enhancing a user’s AR or VR experience. Haptic feedback is when technology artificially conveys the sensation of touch to a user through vibration or other means. iPhones already feature haptic feedback (using what Apple calls a Taptic Engine) through the ability to have your phone vibrate at certain UI interactions, or when soft keys are tapped.
During operation, shear forces and forces normal to the inner surfaces of a foot-shaped support surface and/or the exterior surface of a foot platform may be generated. These forces may provide a user with a sensation of resting or sliding across a tiled surface or other surface with surface irregularities. Friction effects (e.g., resistance to lateral motion) and other effects may also be produced using the haptic output devices.
