Isnt this what the controversial microsoft patent is about (the 666 patent number) ?
Basically its some cryptocurrency that is linked to some device which tracks movement like a smartwatch. I think its going to be some type of "Proof of Walking/Running". So if you walk 1KM or so you would mine a block or something with this currency. So far this is what I am guessing just reading the headlines, didn't have time to dive into it.
Since its a patent it might not actually ever be developed they just put it out there for research purposes, sometimes companies do this. They spend millions on patents but don't actually develop the product.
I can't imagine how mining crypto while walking would work, as there's the possibility of anyone "gaming the system" (cheating). But at least, the idea is there. Since smartwatches are similar to a low-powered computer (like the Raspberry Pi), that can be easily adapted to almost anything you could imagine as long as the hardware specs meet with certain requirements. Right now, specs on smartwatches are relatively poor (low RAM, sluggish CPU, etc), which could make mining crypto on them quite a challenging task.
Since we already have a hardware wallet in a form of a smartwatch, it could be possible that someday we might be able to mine crypto directly in our wearable devices with a CPU-friendly algo. Cuckoo cycle or even Yescrypt-based cryptocurrencies might be able to mine effectively on a smartwatch. I'd expect that once smartwatches experience an upgrade in hardware, developers will be more interested in making this a reality. It all comes down to supply and demand. If people are looking to mine crypto on the go with their smartwatch, we'll see apps emerge in the future that will fulfill said purpose. Otherwise, mining crypto on phones, tablets, and PCs, will be the norm for a very long time. I'd hope that different types of devices would be put to work in order to further contribute towards the decentralization of crypto and Blockchain technology. Just my opinion
