Sony Patents Matrix-Like Game Technology

howman writes "Reuters is reporting that Sony has been granted 2 patents, both describing 'Method and system for generating sensory data onto the human neural cortex'. These are patents 6,729,337 and 6,536,440. The patents go on to 'describe a technique for aiming ultrasonic pulses at specific areas of the brain to induce sensory experiences such as smells, sounds and images'. The story was first broken by New Scientist magazine." Commentary also available via Ars Technica.

What about that third patent?

[TripMaster Monkey]

Wonder why Reuters left this one out...

There was a third patent, entitled "Method and system for utilization of the human body as a clean, renewable energy source". It goes on to describe "a process for extracting thermal, biochemical, and electrical energy from the human body, ensuring a clean, renewable power supply for the Machi^H^H^H^H^Hrest of the population".

I'd keep an eye on Sony if I were you...

Lawsuits

[Scoria]

So, any bets as to which pornographer Sony will be suing first? ;-)

PS9

[mesach]

Looks like they are already working on the PS9, Hopefully they can reach the launch date of 2019.

I Can't wait to play that wipeout like game they had in the commercial!

Hmmm....

[Punboy]

Well first off, first post? Second, Isn't this a little far-fetched? Why patent something that probably won't be possible for a long time? How do they even know it will BE possible? Or is this already in beta? :D Is this a belated april fools?

Wheeeww

[Gaewyn L Knight]

At least with sound they don't have to stick a heavily wired icepick into my brain.

See technology is already passing Sci-Fi up. :}

I wonder if they can use it...

[tehwebguy]

...to make The Matrix game seem fun to the user

Matrix-like technology?

[Anonymous Coward]

You mean the first third is good, whilst the rest is shit?

Interesting patent idea.

Patents

[Anonymous Coward]

If sony can patent this, then I wanna patent say, the genetic code of clifford the big red dog.

Wait...let me get this straight..

[grasshoppa]

...you're going to shoot what now? At my brain???!

I'll grant you, it's not really doing much else, so it could, in a pinch, substitute for a targetting dummy. However, as I am firmly attached to it, this seems like an idea who's time will never come.

Re:PS9

[Datamonstar]

More like the PS69...

Re:question

[9mm Censor]

You cant patent a teleporter, Sony patented it years ago.

Re:Wheeeww

[jb.hl.com]

At least with sound they don't have to stick a heavily wired icepick into my brain.

See technology is already passing Sci-Fi up. :}

And, apparently, Leon Trotsky [wikipedia.org].

Smells?

[Aumaden]

sensory experiences such as smells, sounds and images

Seeing goatse and tubgirl are bad enough. But, Smells??!

/me shudders and runs screaming

You'll need to be brainwashed just to feel clean after that.

Re:question

[Chris Kamel]

given the way things are goin they may come up with some home or personal device with voice recognition, and then you'll just have to say "Patent teleporter" and you're done

Re:PS9

[afd8856]

This idea is not new. Patenting it means they've probably hired an army of lawyers that will try to change the IP laws, extending the patent duration.

Now let me take my paranoid hat off.

Re:PS9

[andymar]

Why go to a distant galaxy when we have 200 billion stars in our own ?

Re:What about that third patent?

[Gzip Christ]

We must act now. I propose that we scorch the sky so that the Sony lawyers can no longer find their way to the patent office.

spam spam spam

[ameline]

You watch -- it'll be used for porn and spam injected directly into your brain -- and I barely have room left for the voices.

Re:question

[Reignking]

Time to patent my time machine so that I can prevent others from going back in time and patenting it before me.

Re:PS9

[LordEd]

At least its not Microsoft holding the patent. Would you want to hook your brain up to a machine that crashes every 10 minutes?

-------------
+1 bashing microsoft

Re:What about that third patent?

[Gzip Christ]

its really hard to power anything of a 98.6 F thermal power source.

So what you are saying is that we need to overclock the humans? That shouldn't be a problem if we suspend them in liquid - I'm thinking a red-ish goo would work well.

Re:PS9

[ChuyMatt]

Sorry to be a spelling nazi, but that would be:

"Because the gas is always greener on the other side of the universe."

Re:If you get fragged in the game...

[TooCynical]

Never mind a few fatalities, what about the volume of users going blind from all of the Porn and ummmm resulting activities?

Re:PS9

[Vintermann]

No, no, it's red! The gas is always redder [wikipedia.org] on the other side of the universe!

Re:PS9

[gtall]

Yep, they are called Senators here in the U.S.

Re:PS9

[sglane81]

Why go to a distant galaxy when we have 200 billion stars in our own ?

Because the best stories happen in a galaxy far, far away.

Re:What about that third patent?

[frankvl]

I knew I should have patented my method of 'aiming subsonic pulses at specific areas of the ear to induce sensory experiences such as sounds'

Re:What about that third patent?

[KDR_11k]

Well, that and the Cell/SkyNet. Not to forget the robots they're building.

On the other hand, given Sony's past record I wouldn't be surprised if all the machines suddently shut down with the words "Disk Read Error" flashing on their screens...

Re:PS9

[PHP Addict]

Ever think that someone in a galaxy far, far away is telling stories about us?

"Gather round kids, I'm going to tell you a story. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, there was an evil monopoly called Microsoft..."

Re:PS9

[KDR_11k]

Because that stupid "King of all Cosmos" guy accidentally destroyed them.

Sign me up...

[Brad1138]

Wheres my "Woman in the red dress"???

Prior Art..

[un1xl0ser]

As far as feeding my neural cortex with sensory information, my body parts do a good job of that.

I'll volunteer my sexual organs as prior art.

Re:Paradise Engineering ...

[po8]

...come back with a little more than a hunch.

[sung, of course, to the Brady Bunch theme]

Here's the story
Of a silly patent
Granted to a sci-fi-sounding non-device.
It just might make you smell or feel---
It sure would be nice.

Here's the story
Posted here at Slashdot
By a poster who hates patenting mere dreams.
Thinks the Office
Should get a cluon
And kill these harebrained schemes.

And so today when this poster met this patent
We all saw that it was much more than a hunch
That the two were never meant to be together---
That's the way folks get their panties in a bunch!

Panties in a bunch!
Panties in a bunch!
That's the way folks get their panties in a bunch!

Re:What about that third patent?

[FingerDemon]

Too late. In a minute from now, my future self will send a time machine back to the current me. I will then use it to go back and file a time machine patent two minutes before you posted your message.

By the time you read this, you may already be embroiled in a lawsuit.

Is Anyone Else Uncomfortable With This?

[Greyfox]

Sony and Microsoft top my list of companies I don't want patenting Matrix-like technology. Agent Smith will be dropping by later to discuss your MP3 collection...

Scarrrrey...

And the PSP seemed so harmless...

[Axis of Weasel]

but now im a little suspicious

i always wondered what that expansion brain slot was for...

First, you must realize the truth

[glassgnost]

There is no patent...

Re:Lawsuits

[pla]

But remember that no matter how "good" an electrical impulse can make you feel, I have a hard time believing computers will EVER be able to simulate the effects of love and what its like to be physical with someone you love.

Did you cry when Aeris died?