Apple nabs remote photo, motion control patents

CUPERTINO, Calif., Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Apple was granted patents for taking photographs with a remote control and for gesture-based controls, driving stock prices down for at least one competitor.

Based on a sketch filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Apple's patent for remote control photo-taking is perhaps meant to team up the iPhone's camera with the company's forthcoming Apple Watch.

The sketch looks like the new wrist-bound technology and when introducing the new product in September, Apple CEO Tim Cook said a member of his development team "loves to use theirs as a view finder for their iPhone camera."

The news drove down prices on stock for GoPro, which is known for its hands-free camera technology.

In other trademark news, Apple was awarded a patent for gesture-based controls, similar to what consumers have seen in Xbox Kinect.

This comes one year after Apple acquired PrimeSense, which developed the Kinect for Microsoft.

The technology could allow consumers to wave their hands or use their fingers to pinch the air to control computers, video games or televisions.