Apple seems to be exploring new underwater horizons. A recent patent discovered on Tuesday, but initially filed in April 2021, sheds a lot of light on Apple’s research regarding an “underwater user interface” for the iPhone. A breakthrough that could mark the beginning of a completely waterproof version of our phones.
A new interface for our underwater adventures
Although the Apple Watch Ultra already functions as a dive computer up to depths of 40 meters, the current range of iPhones, including the latest iPhone 15, only have a “water-resistant” rating. Unofficial tests indicate that it is much more resistant than it seems and yet, officially they could withstand more.
The patent published this week suggests that future iPhone models could detect when they are submerged in water, adapting their interface to display a simplified version of iOS, easier to handle underwater. The patent of an impressive 78 pages, seems to cover almost every aspect of Apple’s operating system.
According to the text, the rise of more water-resistant devices has led to an increase in their use during water activities. Apple acknowledges that the standard iOS operating system can be “cumbersome and inefficient” in these circumstances, consuming more usage time than necessary. The company argues that current methods for displaying interfaces underwater are “outdated, slow, and inefficient“, requiring multiple keystrokes or buttons.
Building on this, the new methodology patented by Apple promises to be a faster and more efficient method for using our iPhones underwater. Although the patent does not specifically focus on hardware, it is evident that Apple envisions a future where iPhones are completely waterproof and can be used underwater in various ways.
Beyond the fun illustrations, on the screen you can see a typical iOS interface with applications, including an icon in the status bar indicating that the device is in submarine mode. In addition to navigation, specific applications such as the camera would be displayed with simplified underwater interfaces. For example, to adjust the zoom level in the application, the volume buttons would be used instead of the pinch gesture.
It is true that we do not expect to see this year’s iPhones being waterproof, but this patent does show us the company’s interest in evolving its interfaces so that they can keep up with what the hardware will be capable of doing. A waterproof iPhone that Apple seems to be already working on.
