Recently, there has been talk of Apple experimenting with the idea of a smart ring comparable to Oura or Samsung's Galaxy Ring.

While the idea of what to expect from Apple's ring has been running through our minds, what we haven't considered is its application in the new world of augmented reality (AR).

A new patent discovered by AppleInsider outlines how sensors can be attached to fingers for better hand detection in headsets like the Vision Pro.

"Electronic devices such as computers and head-mounted display systems may be controlled using input/output devices such as gloves," the patent, titled "Finger-worn device with sensors and haptics," states.

While gloves seem like the most obvious solution, they have some fairly obvious drawbacks. "If care is not taken, devices such as gloves may affect the user's ability to sense objects around them."

As an alternative to gloves, "wearable devices, such as finger-worn devices [that] are used to collect input from the user's fingers as the user interacts with surfaces in the user's environment. It can be used to collect input from the user's finger and can be used to provide a click or other tactile output during these interactions."

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In other words, tapping a virtual keyboard with a finger may actually feel like touching a real keyboard due to the corresponding finger vibration. It could also make the virtual reality experience more immersive. For example, one might be able to "feel" catching a digital ball.

Some of the images in the patent correspond to rings, but others show fingertip sensors, and if this is ever introduced as a Vision Pro 2 accessory in the distant future, Apple would most likely prefer the latter.

The main reason is that full hand dexterity would require a total of 10 Smart Rings, one for each finger and thumb. If Apple enthusiasts wanted to spend that much, Apple would no doubt be pleased, but it does not seem like a recipe for mass adoption.

This seems more likely to be a ring-type accessory sold as a set than the rumored smart ring. However, even so, having to wear 10 rings every time the Vision Pro is activated would seem to be unsuitable for regular use.

That is not to say, however, that wearing 10 fingertip sensors on a regular basis is not a significant burden. Say what you will about the discomfort and inflexibility of gloves, but there are at most two things that users struggle with.

On the other hand, there are uses where the Smart Ring fits well (pun intended). The patent briefly mentions how the finger can be used "as a pointing device" or "as a joystick" to "control the on-screen cursor and other adjustable system functions within the device."

That would obviously only require one Smart Ring per finger, which seems perfectly plausible as a benefit for theoretical Smart Ring buyers. However, Apple has already solved this problem with the Apple Vision Pro, thanks to eye tracking and finger gestures.

But let's not forget here that this is just a patent; as Bloomberg's Mark Gurman noted in his recent report, the ring idea is just an idea, not actively being developed.

Hand tracking is not the main problem Vision Pro faces right now. In fact, it is one of the device's strengths, so while the innovation described here may one day appear in a commercial product, it is far from a guarantee.