A touch screen is handy…except when your hands are busy or dirty. In any case, you cannot touch the screen, take a call or navigate because you have, for example, non-touch gloves.
Apple has found a solution for its two new connected watches presented this Tuesday in Cupertino (California). The function called “Double tap” consists of using the thumb and index finger of the hand that is wearing the Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch Ultra. By touching them twice together, a menu will open, you can navigate through it, take a call or hang up, activate the camera, the timer or set an alarm, but also a good number of contextualized actions.
Muscle micromovements captured by the watch
The only thing that is not useful is for sports activities. On Apple’s part, we explain that there is too much risk that the sensors take into account a false gesture during movements. You can only answer a call received during exercise using the “Double Tap” function. Third-party app developers will be free to use the capability offered, but this will be to manage notification options.
Bad news if you were hoping to be able to enjoy it on your old watch at the expense of updating to watchOS 10, the next operating system. This is the prerogative of the two newcomers equipped with the new S9 chip. The computing power of the new system, combined with the gyroscope, accelerometer, as well as optical heart rate sensors, provides more precision in the detection of micro-movements by the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Watch Ultra 2.
In contact with the skin, the watch will be able to “feel” the muscles and the electrical current that passes through them to understand the movements made. The Watch’s artificial intelligence has been trained to understand situations, contextualize them according to the activity taking place on the watch and provide a response after the double pinch.
The feature will arrive in October on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 via an update. Apple hopes to see other usage options appear over time, particularly from partner developers.
An option inspired by accessibility
This feature is reminiscent of Assistive Touch, a motor skill accessibility option to make the Apple Watch usable by those who are not fully physically capable. Assistive Touch offers several gestures, including pinching your fingers (once or twice) to use the screen using arm movements and gestures.
Available on Apple Watch SE, Series 6 or later, this feature helps you take calls, use Apple Pay, activate Siri, or, of course, start tracking a sports activity. A more varied and customizable version of Touch Twice, but less precise in the perception of the gesture. However, it will be available on a wider range of connected watches.
Please note that it will not be possible to activate both functions at the same time.
Source: BFM TV
