Apple looks into enhanced stopwatch and timer user interfaces

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.”