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Apple Watch

Apple concedes smartwatch functionality is impaired by tattoos

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By John Glenday, Reporter

May 1, 2015 | 1 min read

Apple has admitted that some skin sensitive functionality of its brand new smartwatch can be impeded by the presence of tattoos, following complaints from inked owners that their watches were failing to accurately register heart rate.

The hi-tech gizmo is reliant on light sensors on the underside of the device but these are prone to fail in the presence of darker coloured artworks or even differing skin types.

In a statement Apple conceded: “Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can... impact heart rate sensor performance.

"The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings."

Other users have complained that their watches lock when placed over tattooed wrists, failing to relay pings designed to alert the wearer to incoming messages.

The problems are by no means limited to Apple however, which actually performed well in benchmark tests, with the problem thought to arise from calibration issues relating to the amount of light reflected by varying skin tones.

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