Multi-segment wearable accessory

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided to facilitate the use of a multi-segment wearable accessory. In this regard, methods, apparatus and computer program products are provided for controlling and, in some instances, interacting with a multi-segment wearable accessory. In particular, a method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided that provide for a determination of an initial angle defined between first and second segments in response to receipt of an initial contact component of a touch input via the first and second segments. A change in the initial angle can then be determined in response to movement of the segments with respect to each other, and an operation may be executed at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined. Thus, a continuous input parameter may be supplied by a user so as to provide another dimension of input to the wearable accessory.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:
 provide for a determination of an initial angle defined between a first segment and a second segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory in response to receipt of an initial contact component of a touch input via the first and second segments; and   provide for a determination of a change in the initial angle in response to movement of at least one of the first segment or the second segment with respect to the other of the first segment or the second segment such that an operation is executed at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide for receipt of a movement component of the touch input via at least one of the first or second segments, wherein the change in the initial angle is determined in response to receipt of the movement component. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide for receipt of the movement component of the touch input by providing for receipt of the movement component via the first segment and the second segment. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the touch input comprises a pinch-in gesture or a pinch-out gesture. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to determine the change in the initial angle via data obtained from inertial measurement unit sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to provide for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined in an instance in which the change in the initial angle determined exceeds a predetermined threshold amount. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 providing for a determination of an initial angle defined between a first segment and a second segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory in response to receipt of an initial contact component of a touch input via the first and second segments; and   providing for a determination of a change in the initial angle in response to movement of at least one of the first segment or the second segment with respect to the other of the first segment or the second segment such that an operation is executed at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising providing for receipt of a movement component of the touch input via at least one of the first or second segments, wherein the change in the initial angle is determined in response to receipt of the movement component. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing for receipt of the movement component of the touch input comprises providing for receipt of the movement component via the first segment and the second segment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising obtaining data from at least one inertial measurement unit sensor, wherein the change in the initial angle is determined based on the data obtained. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising providing for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined comprises providing for execution of the operation in an instance in which the change in the initial angle determined exceeds a predetermined threshold amount. 
     
     
         14 . A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable program code portions stored therein, the computer-executable program code portions comprising program code instructions configured to:
 provide for a determination of an initial angle defined between a first segment and a second segment of a multi-segment wearable accessory in response to receipt of an initial contact component of a touch input via the first and second segments; and   provide for a determination of a change in the initial angle in response to movement of at least one of the first segment or the second segment with respect to the other of the first segment or the second segment such that an operation is executed at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined.   
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the program code instructions are further configured to provide for receipt of a movement component of the touch input via at least one of the first or second segments, wherein the change in the initial angle is determined in response to receipt of the movement component. 
     
     
         16 . The computer program product of  claim 15 , wherein the program code instructions configured to provide for receipt of the movement component of the touch input are further configured to provide for receipt of the movement component via the first segment and the second segment. 
     
     
         17 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the touch input comprises a pinch-in gesture or a pinch-out gesture. 
     
     
         18 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the program code instructions are further configured to obtain data from at least one inertial measurement unit sensor, wherein the change in the initial angle is determined based on the data obtained. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the program code instructions are further configured to provide for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product of  claim 19 , wherein the program code instructions configured to provide for execution of an operation at least partially based upon the change in the initial angle determined are further configured to provide for execution of the operation in an instance in which the change in the initial angle determined exceeds a predetermined threshold amount.