Italian researcher shows off early prototypes of the original Apple Watch purchased from an e-waste facility, showing new insight into the secretive company’s design process
- Giulio Zompetti has acquired prototypes of the first Apple Watch
- He says he acquired the devices from an e-waste company
- The prototypes show Apple experimenting with the heart rate sensor design
A collection of early Apple Watch prototypes have been acquired by an Italian tech researcher and collector.
Giulio Zompetti in Milan, Italy purchased four prototype models of the Apple Watch that he believes predate the original’s 2015 release.
Zompetti says he bought the prototypes from an e-waste facility, but declines to name the specific company or location.
An Italian tech researcher has acquired early prototypes of the first Apple Watch, which show how many subtle changes the device went through before being released in 2015
The prototypes come in a number of slightly different sizes, suggesting Apple was experimenting with just how big to make the final design.
The watches all have small QR codes on them, as well as a unique ovular logo that is a hallmark of Apple’s prototype devices, suggesting there’s a good chance the models are genuine , according to a report in Vice.
None of the prototypes are currently functioning, but Zompetti intends to repair and sell them just as he has with other Apple prototypes he’s acquired, including test versions of iPhones and MacBooks.
The prototypes also show Apple experimenting with different configurations for the heart rate sensors built into the back of the Apple Watch.
These sensors use a process called photoplethysmography to measure each pulse of blood as it passes through the vessels in a person’s wrist.
For general background monitoring, the watch uses infrared LED lights, which are reflected back from blood as it expands and contracts in the vessels.
Zompetti says he acquired the prototypes from an e-waste facility but declined to name it or say where it’s located. In the past, he’s also worked with prototype versions of iPhones and MacBooks
The prototypes show some significant changes in the heart rate sensor on the back of the Apple Watch, which uses LED light flashes to measure a person’s pulse
The prototypes are stamped with QR codes and an ovular logo that has been used to identify other Apple prototypes in the past
For specific apps that use heart rate as a main feature, such as Apple’s relaxation app Breathe, the device switches to a set of green LED lights, which are absorbed by blood instead of reflected.
To ensure the heart rate sensors were accurate, Apple designed this LED system to dynamically adapt to a variety of different circumstances to ensure accurate readings, including flashing the LED lights more or or less often, and adjusting the brightness of each flash.
The prototypes show several different arrangements for this sensing system, including LED lights arranged in a cross, and in a straght line, suggesting it took some effort to settle on a final design.
While Apple maintains notoriously tight security measures on its product development efforts, prototypes of products nearing a final release can see hundreds and potentially even thousands of units produced for testing.