SEOUL KOREA - The number of smartwatch-related patent applications increased along with a string of ICT companies, including Samsung and Apple, making forays into this area.
According to the Korea Intellectual Property Office on November 23, the number of smartwatch patent applications started picking up from last year, reaching 143 last year and 136 in January-November of 2014. These figures represent a drastic increase compared to 11 in 2011 and 10 in 2012.
Among the smartwatch patent applications, smartwatch services accounted for the largest share of 36.8 percent, followed by the technologies related with smartwatch detachment, text/touchpad input and voice recognition (30%).
Wearable device optimization technologies, including low-voltage technology and smartwatch control technology, accounted for 22 percent, while hardware technologies, including those related with display, battery and memories, took up 11.2 percent.
Article provided by The Korea Economic Daily
