New Apple Patent Details Socially-Distanced Selfies
On June 2nd, Apple won a patent that would allow users to generate "synthetic group selfies.” While the patent was first spotted by Patently Apple, the Verge today described the details of the approved patent which was filed by Apple back in 2018:
"The selfie could include still photos, stored video images, or live streaming images. Users could keep the original selfie as well as the group version, and the original user and recipients of the group image could modify the selfie, for instance, putting themselves in a different position in the group."
Based on the images included in the patent, the remotely-enabled group selfie feature would allow iOS users to invite their contacts to participate in a group selfie photo via what looks to be the Camera app. Recipients of the invite are then granted the option to accept or decline the prompt using an interactive notification.
While it is unclear what kind of machine learning tech Apple would need to stitch multiple selfies together into one group photo, this feature seems perfectly convenient for this unique time period we are all living through. It remains to be seen whether the Cupertino giant will eventually decide to make this software available to its customers. Apple has a history of applying for a myriad of patents that rarely materialize into real products and features. If this feature should come to life in a future iOS version, let’s all hope that we’re not still social distancing!