An average American spends approximately an hour a day on the road, which equates to almost 15 days in a year. This time commuting to and fro from work, school, or out shopping, could be spent ogling at the scenic surroundings, attractive billboards or looked upon as a chance to explore new areas of the city. However, with the onus of driving or navigating, there are moments or sights we wish to capture but don't have the opportunity. In an intriguing turn towards addressing this issue, Apple has filed a new patent - US20230328207A1, titled "Method and System for Providing At Least One Image Captured by a Scene Camera of a Vehicle."
This intriguing patent by Apple aims to capture images of real objects based on the direction of the occupants' attention. It uses multiple cameras positioned in various parts of a vehicle and intelligently decides which camera to use to capture the desired object. Essentially, the technological setup in the car will use the passengers' or drivers' gaze point to determine which object or area they are interested in, and capture it—stunningly playing the role of a professional photographer.
Memory often fails us. One might forget the exact details or locations of potential points of interest - be it the restaurant advertising exceptional offers or the boutique displaying an attractive ensemble. Deciding to take pictures while driving to recollect the details later might seem like a good idea until one realizes that it's both impractical and perilously unsafe. Meanwhile, relying on our recollections alone can perilously lead to lost details or erroneous recollections. This advancement serves as a potential lifesaver for such situations.
This revolutionary technology developed by Apple promises to be lucrative for every driver on the road. With this invention in hand, capturing splendid sunrise on the way to work or the fascinating billboard you crossed won't be a missed chance anymore. With cameras around the vehicle capturing every detail, the driver can rest assured knowing those potentially memorable sights and scenarios are being captured without hindering their driving.
In the future, this technology could even serve marketing and advertising strategies. Billboards could be tailored to certain routes with high traffic, knowing that even a passing look could result in an image capture, stored for later interest. On a personal note, anyone interested in photography but hindered due to travel constraints now has an automated system doing the work for them.
It is important to remember that this patent by Apple has not yet transitioned into a real-life product. Although the proposed technology paints a vivid picture of the future, there is still a long path to its fruition involving testing, production, and deployment. As intriguing as this invention may be, it's uncertain when or whether it will make its appearance in the market.
P.S. Like any other patent, there is no guarantee that the technology proposed will become available for commercial use. However, this patent promises to be an interesting development in smart technologies, transforming the way we view transportation and technology itself.