New Microsoft patent could turn Kinect into Big Brother

[Bonescrubs 11]

If this was used purely as a parental control measure then I could fully understand, but it seems way too far-reaching. So if I say rented a movie on my Xbox, then invited some friends round to watch it, the Kinect programming would detect that there were too many people in the room in respect of the license and refuse to play it? Now that is going too far.

[OXM ETboy]

Indeed, let's hope it's one of their more speculative patents.

[richwk 25]

So is there another patent in there somewhere that makes the kinect actually work? Assuming you're watching the film further than two feet away and not in direct, blazing light, how will the kinect even know who's watching?

[FishyGinger 49]

I knew having a spare room and a dummy of me sat in it would come in handy. This is really daft, much like radio licences.

I'm guessing the On button will look something like this?

[richwk 25]

Heh. " Just what do you think you are doing, Dave?"
"I'm watching 1984."
The irony!

[Clanger67 59]

Weirdly my mate mentioned something like this before Kinect first came out.Plus how can they stop you and a load of mates watching a film they can only do that if you are charging people to watch it.

[Wheely13 10]

"Environment 612, with capture device 620, may be used to recognise, analyse, and/or track human (and other types of) targets,"

So if i'm watching a movie with my girlfriend and her 3 cats come into the room, it will stop? Because the way that is worded seems to me that it might track every living thing.

Also, generally when we watch a "movie" things get heated, i'm not sure i'm comfortable with microsoft watching me get frisky...

[delmariachi 42]

I'd have thought the more logical idea behind it is to stop say, sky sports football being viewed in pubs or other such more public venues but the reality I feel could be pretty much whats been referred too previous....

[Plamsa wing 42]

It's entirely possible that this is one of those things that gets patented, but never really gets developed further for many a reason.

If it's not, then it's a pretty worrying idea either way.

Also, generally when we watch a "movie" things get heated, i'm not sure i'm comfortable with microsoft watching me get frisky...

I'd be more worried about the bloke spying through the window, the same bloke that's there right now! Quick go get him!

[CunningSmile 52]

Surely this patent will never go ahead, purely because any police state style observation that can be defeated by just unplugging the peripheral is deeply flawed.

[FishyGinger 49]

Surely this patent will never go ahead, purely because any police state style observation that can be defeated by just unplugging the peripheral is deeply flawed.

Now yes, when kinect is integrated? Not so easy then. Although there will be ways to fool this obviously.

At my last place of work we kept getting calls about the radio. You aren't allowed to have it on in the work place where something like 3 or more workers, or any customers, can hear it. But if you have a workshop with a van in, you can turn that radio on as loud as you like and not have to pay a fee of something like 150 quid a year. Completely stupid but don't rule out companies being quite so petty.

Still can't imagine they would implement this though, it would be a desperately unpopular move. Move...get it, the PS peripheral...oh never mind.

[msbhvn 57]

This is one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard of. It probably breaks the law in most countries, too. I'm sure big business could get it through in the US, especially if Baseball Glove Romney wins the election today. If he does, I think the rest of the world should pass a UN resolution to take the vote away from the public in the US, as they are too stupid to use it properly.

[trapezium 2]

This is one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard of. It probably breaks the law in most countries, too. I'm sure big business could get it through in the US, especially if Baseball Glove Romney wins the election today. If he does, I think the rest of the world should pass a UN resolution to take the vote away from the public in the US, as they are too stupid to use it properly.

And we voted in the tories...

[Clanger67 59]

This is one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard of. It probably breaks the law in most countries, too. I'm sure big business could get it through in the US, especially if Baseball Glove Romney wins the election today. If he does, I think the rest of the world should pass a UN resolution to take the vote away from the public in the US, as they are too stupid to use it properly.

And we voted in the tories...

I didn't.

[msbhvn 57]

This is one of the most disturbing things I've ever heard of. It probably breaks the law in most countries, too. I'm sure big business could get it through in the US, especially if Baseball Glove Romney wins the election today. If he does, I think the rest of the world should pass a UN resolution to take the vote away from the public in the US, as they are too stupid to use it properly.

And we voted in the tories...

I didn't either, but at least the Tories pretended to be nice to try and get votes. The Republican Party pander to the nastiest, most evil views in American society and the dumbass they picked as candidate is actually giving Obama a run for his money! There just isn't a facepalm big enough.