Apple is looking into enhanced stopwatch and timer user interfaces for its various devices including the Apple Watch and iPhone as evidenced by a new patent filing (number 20200117329).
In the patent data, the tech giant notes that electronic devices may provide stopwatch functionalities and/or timer functionalities. However, some of these functionalities may be limited in that they may display timing data in a basic manner, may not allow for user customization of timing data display parameters, and/or may not provide intuitive methods for inputting timing values by a user. Apple says there’s a need “for more efficient, user-friendly procedures for displaying timing data, allowing for user customization of timing data display parameters, and inputting timing values.”
Here’s the summary of the patent filing: “An electronic device may display a first lap time representation, and may move the first lap time representation in accordance with a first amount of elapsed time. While moving the first lap time representation, the electronic device may detect a lap input. In response to the lap input, the electronic device may cease movement of the first lap time representation, display a second lap time representation, and move the second lap time representation in accordance with a second amount of elapsed time.
“A relative positioning of the first lap time representation and the second lap time representation may correspond to a difference between a first lap time and a second lap time. In some embodiments, the electronic device may update the timescales of lap time representation(s) in accordance with a rotational input. In some embodiments, the electronic device may update a timer duration setting in accordance with a rotational input.”
