Shortly after the launch of the first model of Apple Watch, many smartwatch users have started asking Apple for a feature that is necessary. More precisely, we are talking about a function that permanently displays on the Apple Watch screen information about the time, and possibly about notifications, it being known as Always On.
Apple has not yet indicated that it could integrate such a function into the Apple Watch, probably because it would reduce battery life, but a new patent seems to suggest that it could be offered. Apple describes a method by which this function could be integrated into the Apple Watch, at least information about the time could be displayed in this way.
Apple Watch: The Highly Expected Function is Prepared by Apple
The Apple Watch lights up its screen when the hand is raised, but when it is down, it requires interaction with the watch to see the time, something some would like to see changed. Apple also implemented this system to avoid burn-in problems for the Apple Watch screen, but for the future it also describes a method by which this problem could be avoided.
"Organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays–which are becoming a popular choice for computing device displays–can degrade in a non-uniform manner over their lifespans and lead to unwanted color/brightness artifacts. To address this concern, burn-in statistics–which record historical usage information associated with a given OLED display–can be used to artificially adjust the operation of the OLED display to substantially restore visual uniformity throughout its operation. Notably, such burn-in statistics can take the form of a high-resolution, multiple-channel image that consumes a considerable amount of storage space within the computing device in which the OLED display is included. For obvious reasons, this consumption can dissatisfy users as their overall expected amount of available storage space is reduced for seemingly unknown reasons. It is therefore desirable to store the burn-in statistics in a more efficient manner."
Of course, in order to offer something like this in the Apple Watch, the Apple company should modify watchOS and implement either a larger battery or a processor that consumes less energy. I don't know how many people would be willing to give up the battery life of the Apple Watch in favor of an Always On Display, but it's pretty clear that Apple will offer the function at some point.
