Microsoft patents Kinect-like device to count and identify people

Microsoft patents Kinect-like device to count and identify people

phys.org

(Phys.org)—Microsoft Corporation has applied for a patent on new technology that would use a Kinect-like device to count and even perhaps identify people as they watch streamed content. Its purpose would be to allow content providers to restrict the number of people viewing content, or the number of times certain individuals could watch a particular video stream. Such technology they note, could also allow for collecting payment for watching content based on the number of people watching, or pr

(visit the link for the full news article)

Sounds like technology perfectly ripe for abuse. There would be no conceivable way to verify what data they are actually collecting, and to what end. Especially a large corporation like Microsoft.

You already hear about all the cases of different government or corporate entities abusing webcams,

I for one have a kinect and am thinking about throwing it out, and just using wii when i don't wanna be lazy.

phys.org
(visit the link for the full news article)

find a picture in a magazine of a guy in his mid 30's, point the kinetic at it, enjoy whatever you want for single fee?

this is insanely creepy but not exactly fool proof

Also i kinda saw this on a TV show called futurama, where the maker of the console who's 3 sons play, were getting beaten by some other people, so she uses the capture device to view the players and identify them. They sort of called this!

The day when your tv watches you has come.

Actually many sources and devices are watching us daily.

Nineteen Eighty-Four........................

en.wikipedia.org...

don't worry, kinect comes bundled with every xbox so everybody can have a camera in their living room from microsoft.

nothing creepy about a web cam in your house connected to the internet with security provided by the makers of windows.

Originally posted by randomname
don't worry, kinect comes bundled with every xbox so everybody can have a camera in their living room from microsoft.

nothing creepy about a web cam in your house connected to the internet with security provided by the makers of windows.

edit on 7-11-2012 by randomname because: (no reason given)

checking your kids out.... you know to make sure the content you as a responsible parent chose to show them, oh wait thats not your call any more, oh and thats an extra 5 bucks for the wife to watch, thanks.

dont worry, we already charged you.

Originally posted by randomname
nothing creepy about a web cam in your house connected to the internet with security provided by the makers of windows.

edit on 7-11-2012 by randomname because: (no reason given)

Windows w/ Internet Explorer historically have been the most solid, fool proof pieces of software released!


/end sarcasm

reply to post by ubeenhad


Here come all "End-of-World" theories

Your choice, free people of the world, is this. Boycott and be prepared to quit watching movies and entertainment media, and learn to be entertained for free. Starve the creeps that made this sort of observation a reality.

Or option two. Roll the hell over, and let a faceless corperation or ten decide how many people you can have come round to watch a movie and eat junkfood, and fine you when you do not comply.

Its no choice at all really. Best start weening ourselves off the goggle box now, and learn to enjoy hiking or something to pass the time!

Take a cardboard box.

Cut out two holes for your eyes.

Hold cardboard box on your lap, view through holes, remain perfectly still, as you watch TV.

You just cracked the "number of people watching" issue.

Hmmm,.
"Minority Report" comes to mind
Face recognition in malls and halls..
Guess i better get to know a surgeon.,, just incase

reply to post by ubeenhad


Super...This will work great for Corralling us into the fema camps quickly=quick identification

interesting post thnx

I wonder who will be watching on the other end...guess that will end love making during a movie

reply to post by 10JBernard


End of the world....who cares.

No more bow chick a wow wow on the couch!

Visions of 1984...... Again.

reply to post by ubeenhad


What if they are already using it in the Kinect without the public's knowledge? i always had a bad feeling about that Kinect

Time to turn it around

Has anyone read the terms of service for Kinect? You know, that thing you legally agreed to before using it for the first time? Of course you read it, we all read those (sarcasm)

here

As the article in the link puts it, Kinect is "an attractive fun filled device intentionally brought in your home with 4 microphones, 2 cameras, an infrared motion sensor, and a license to freely record and upload your activity". It's not as blatant or obvious as 1984, and it's certainly prettier, but it's possibly worse. Having some hanky panky infront of it could be embarressing, but it could potentially also be watching what you're smoking while playing your games or watching your movies as well.

Not content with 1 camera for every 16 people out in the towns and cities, not content with getting us all excited about getting us to keep our personal diary where they can read it, and getting us to tag and identify all our friends and associates, now they're conning us into getting excited about installing a camera into our homes as well.

But sure, the games are great fun, so it's all fine, it's not 1984 at all. Carry on

reply to post by ubeenhad


Microsoft is taking Voyeurism to a new level. I think ill keep my ps3

reply to post by ubeenhad


Does not matter the kinect probably already has every owners 'gimp' (or biometric movement signature/how you walk move) microsoft can then supply this to the government to cross reference with their cctv cameras.

No longer a need for facial recognition... They know how you walk!