Apple is working on a smoke detector that could be incorporated into a future iPhone, according to a patent filing.
This patent would make Apple devices the first to incorporate smoke detectors within smartphones themselves.
The design would give the iPhone, iPad, Macbooks and even the Apple Watch a built-in smoke detector that could alert authorities of a fire.
The patent does not detail exactly how the smoke alarm would work, but hints that currently available sensors could be used, including the iPhone’s camera sensor.
The design would notify others in the building if a fire was detected, as well as alert emergency services.
While there are current systems in place with similar functionality – for example the Nest Protect system – the new design would incorporate the smoke detection system into iPhones themselves, instead of a separate, dedicated device.
