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Wearables
AbacusTech

Huawei patented gaming on a smartwatch by using straps as a controller

The design also doubles as a virtual keyboard

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Huawei patented gaming on a smartwatch by using straps as a controller
Andrew Barclay
This article originally appeared on ABACUS

Smartwatches haven’t taken off as gaming devices, and it’s not hard to see why: Their tiny screens don’t leave a lot of room for virtual buttons. How can you play a game if you can’t even see it?

Now one patent has revealed a possible solution to the problem -- but it comes from a company whose CEO once said he saw no future in smartwatches.
Dutch site LetsGoDigital reports that Huawei has filed a patent for a smartwatch that lets users control the device a little like a traditional game console. How? By using the straps.
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The patent includes diagrams showing the watch held with a strap in each hand. Mechanical and touch sensors sense orientation, taps, even whether the strap is being pulled -- all translated into moves inside games.

The patent filed by Huawei features both mechanical and touch sensors controlling a suspiciously Mario-like game. (Picture: LetsGoDigital).
The patent filed by Huawei features both mechanical and touch sensors controlling a suspiciously Mario-like game. (Picture: LetsGoDigital).
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The obvious downside is that you’d have to actually take your watch off to play with it -- but another drawing shows how it could be used with the watch still on your wrist, with different fingers reaching across to different straps.

The proposed device can still be used while being worn. (Picture: LetsGoDigital).
The proposed device can still be used while being worn. (Picture: LetsGoDigital).
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