The form factor of the Apple Watch has not changed dramatically since its unveiling in 2014. From the straps, to the casing and finishes. One of the main design elements that the watch has had from the beginning is the Digital Crown. The Digital Crown is its version of the iPhone home button, and has become infamous. However, in the future if rumours are to be believed, the crown could soon be removed in favour of a touch-sensitive version of the feature.
From the look of the patents filed by Apple and found by Patently Apple, this change could alter the way we interact with the watch a lot, but it is unclear how the change from physical to digital will impact the way we use the watch.
Apple Patent | Apple
From the images within the patent, the change looks to mainly contribute to the reduction of the watches size, and that the new possible Digital Crown will sit flush with the button that is also currently on the right hand side of the watch. It also suggests that the new crown alternative will include gesture support that may allow you to simulate a rotating crown like is currently on all Apple Watch models, to skip through menus.
Although this idea and patent is exciting, to see Apple playing with different design options for the watch, which like previously mentioned has rarely changed since its launch, it should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Apple and other companies normally patent hundreds of different design ideas that never make it to the final product, so this idea may have already been tested and scrapped, before even making it to the final product. If it is coming, we should also except it not to come with the upcoming Apple Watch Series 6 watch slated for released later this year, so it may take years until we see this come to fruition.