Apple files for patent for ‘external recording indicators’ for ‘Apple Glasses’

Apple has filed for a patent (number 20210191133) for “external recording indicators.” It involves “Apple Glasses,” the rumored augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) head-mounted display.

Apparently, Apple plans to add recording features to such a device. The tech giant wants users to be aware if they’re recording when they don’t intend to.

The simulated environments of VR and/or the mixed environments of mixed reality (MR) may thus be utilized to provide an interactive user experience for multiple applications. Examples include applications that add virtual content to a real-time view of the viewer’s environment, interacting with virtual training environments, gaming, remotely controlling drones or other mechanical systems, viewing digital media content, interacting with the Internet, or the like. Apple wants you to be able to record such scenes.

Here’s the summary of the patent filing: “Recording indicators for devices with cameras that provide protection from tampering so that the recording indicators cannot be easily disabled or masked. Recording indicators that are external to the camera lens and that emit visible light in an encrypted pattern are described. The device may process captured frames to detect the encrypted pattern; if the encrypted pattern cannot be detected, recording is disabled. In addition, modular accessories are described that the user has to attach to the device to enable recording; the presence of the modular attachment indicates to persons in the environment that they may be being recorded.”