Nokia is apparently the latest company to target the smartwatch industry, if some newly-surfaced images and video are any indication.

The smartwatch race is definitely on, with a number of tech heavyweights including Apple, Google and others rumored to be working on their own smartwatch offerings. Samsung has already launched its Galaxy Gear companion and now Nokia seems to have big plans as well.

The Finnish company recently received patent approval for a multi-segment wearable accessory. According to the images posted to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO), the gadget essentially looks like a set of touchsreens chained to one wristband.

Engadget was the first to spot the images and report on the matter. The device reportedly sports the codename "Facet" and sports different applications running on individual segments. For instance, it can display the time on one screen, email on another, and so on. While it's definitely something new, the multi-display smartwatch seems a bit of an overkill, especially since it's supposed to go on one's wrist. Moreover, the patent application also reveals that the touchscreens can pop out of each segment.

Engadget has also posted a video it reportedly received from a Nokia designer. The video shows how users will be able to change the placement of the apps by simply sliding the touchscreen. In other words, one could move the email app to the top segment, the calendar app to the next segment, etc. Users would also be able to expand and collapse segments.

The smartwatch industry is expected to expand at a rapid pace and the devices in this category should become increasingly intricate and complex. Apple is reportedly gearing up to bring its own iWatch to the market, and even Google is rumored to be working on its own wearable-tech offering.

Nokia may have to compete with heavyweight players on the smartwatch market, but it remains to be seen whether a multi-display smartwatch is the best approach to stand out from the crowd. While it's definitely innovative, it might just prove to be too much for a wearable device. It remains to be seen whether such a Nokia smartwatch will actually see the light of day. In the meantime, you can check out the video over at Engadget.