A new Apple patent describes software that allows users to take “synthetic group selfies” despite the large distance between them. […]
In the future, Apple users could take self-portraits and then virtually combine them with those of their friends to create a social-distancing-friendly group picture. “The individual selfie pictures can be still pictures or come from videos and live streams. The software can automatically combine the images into a synthetic group selfie. The individual photos can be saved so that users can rearrange the group picture, ”says the patent.
“Combine automatically”
Users should be able to invite their friends to participate in the group picture. Every user has to take a self-portrait, whereupon the combined picture is created automatically. The patent does not say for which Apple devices synthetic group selfies are intended.
It is still unclear whether Apple will implement the idea and actually develop the software. However, the application would be ideal for social distancing in times of the coronavirus crisis. Apple already registered the patent with the US Patent Office in 2018, so it could not yet keep an eye on the pandemic.
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