Google Wants You To Use Skin Gestures For Wearables, How Could It Work?

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A recently published patent suggests that Google may be working on skin gestures for wearables. While the rumored Pixel Watch remains to be one of the most discussed wearables on the internet, Google has not confirmed its existence yet. As of now, Google sells two wireless earbuds called Pixel Buds and Pixel Buds A-series. Both of these feature touch controls.

In 2022, most of the wearable devices out there are controlled by voice, touch or buttons. However, the documentation submitted by Google mentions that methods like touching or pressing a button can disturb the position of a wearable device, whether it is an earbud or a smartwatch. That, in turn, can affect its performance. However, using skin gestures that do not disturb the position of a device could provide a better user experience.

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Let's Go Digital recently discovered a patent that talks about "Skin Interface for Wearables: Sensor to improve signal quality." The patent was filed by Google back in 2020 with the World Intellectual Property Office. It contains a total of 27 pages that talk about how users can control wearable devices like wireless earbuds and smartwatches via gestures on the skin. In other words, the Google patent talks about a technology that will allow users to tap on their skin near a wearable device to control it.

Google describes the process of controlling a wearable device with the help of skin gestures. Firstly, users would swipe or tap on their skin near the device. This would generate a mechanical wave that sensors and accelerometers would detect on the device. Upon recognition of the wave using 'Sensor Fusion' technology, the device would convert it into an input