IBM Patents A Smartwatch Design That Can Open Up Into A Smartphone And A Tablet

With foldable smartphone becoming the latest trend in the digital world, even though none of these devices has been introduced, IBM seems to have a totally different idea of a tool that can be folded up. According to the patent filed by the company, it is working on a smartwatch that when unfolded, can be a phone or even a tablet.

According to LetsGoDigital, the patent has been posted online, and the company which applied for it was IBM. However, that was three years ago. From the image, we can see a thick smartwatch. This thickness is because it possesses seven display panels in a compartment. When unfolded, the watch can turn into a tablet with eight panels or a smartphone with four panels.

When unfolded, the watch’s UI will change accordingly to display larger images and icons. In the tablet mode with eight panels to be opened up, you will need both hands to operate the device. In the base mode, which is a smartwatch, the device is 3-inch long and 2-inch wide, so when completely unfolded, it will reach a length of 12 inches and a width of 8 inches.

According to the patent, this device features one speaker and can be compatible with a physical keyboard and a mouse. So far, we have had no additional information on the hardware on the inside or the optics.

This is just a patent for a possible product, and since IBM has not been in the consumer electronics market for a long time, we may have to wait for a long time before this device is mass-produced.