Sony Patents Matrix-Like Game Technology 532
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.
Paradise Engineering ... (Score:5, Interesting)
Now let us just hope that we ourselves do not conflict with any (coming) patent so that we can take full advantage.
More seriously (?):
Sony hasn't yet built a device that works based on the ideas presented in the patent, so this is all theoretical. In fact, according to the New Scientist, Sony hasn't even conducted any experiments to see if this works. Nonetheless, most of the reporting on this patent (see the Times Online and the original New Scientist peice) claim that some independent experts have said that the idea is plausible. There's no word yet on whether or not tinfoil will stop the ultrasonic brain rays.
Strange. I bet there are some among the crowd here who have "theoretical ideas" that level up with SONY. IIRC, in ancient times it was necessary to present a working model (at least here in
CC.
Doesn't it seem a bit odd... (Score:5, Interesting)
Working proto-type? (Score:1, Interesting)
question (Score:5, Interesting)
How detailed, exact and 'can be done with the current technology'a patent claim has to be in order to get granted? I mean they can't implement these patents now, can they?
Can I just take say the teleporter and describe it as a commuting device that works by transforming matter into energy, beaming it and retransforming it back to get a patent for it?
Re:Hmmm.... (Score:2, Interesting)
My only question is why didn't they submarine these suckers.
Great for Advertising... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Great for Advertising... (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:question (Score:3, Interesting)
What happend? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Hazards? (Score:4, Interesting)
There are known mechanisms by which excessive neural activity can potentially result in damage.
I'm not going to line up to be the first to try this new technology. The prudent thing to do would be to wait ten or twenty years and see if the early adopters start turning up with dementia or stroke.
By the way, researchers are already achieving interesting effects with transcranial magnetic stimulation, which is much further along, experimentally speaking. Indeed, some scientific equipment companies are selling ready-made devices for this purpose. At least it really does do something, although I haven't seen any practical (as opposed to research) applications.
Re:Paradise Engineering ... (Score:2, Interesting)
1. Build untill broke
2. Secure funding (Protected by non-disclosure agreements)
3. Patent
4. Build.
Patents were intended to protect you from having your device stolen AFTER you go into full production.
When your entering into an agreement with individuals a non-disclosure agreement is more binding, more effective and easier to get.
With shrinkwrap liccensing I'm supprised people haven't attempted a shrinkwrap non-disclosure.
Set of all sets (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Lawsuits (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:What about that third patent? (Score:1, Interesting)
Or if they would just sue persinger for patent violation.
Oh wait, Sony's patent uses ultrasonic waves, rather than magnetic pulses. Sorry, my bad.
Re:Patent on Vapor ? (Score:2, Interesting)
Can I run out and get a patent on energy based wepons or faster than light engens?
Or maybe I could patent using the next release of a Microsoft brand product in business or government?
Re:Lawsuits (Score:2, Interesting)
It will be illegal for minnors to use the technology.
People will (and in fact do now) have sex purely for procreation.
There are marrage books that actually teach how to make sex not plesurable as it is a nasty thing that should only be used for procreation.
Re:Wheeeww (Score:2, Interesting)
Nor get any permission 'cause it could be done at a distance! Now I won't even need to turn my TV on to see commercials! Woo! 8)
Good idea SONY! (Score:5, Interesting)
We should set up a charity to patent these sorts of "prophetic" inventions, so that when the day comes that they can actually be implemented the patents will have expired and the technology will be free of any restrictive licensing.
I suggest these as starters:
Cold Fusion
Teleporters
Personal laser weapons
Warp drives
Jump gates
Nanobot based immune systems
Strange Days (Score:2, Interesting)
imdb linkage: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114558/ [imdb.com]
This should be illeagal. (Score:2, Interesting)
I wouldn't want to alter realit for anything.
Re:Paradise Engineering ... (Score:3, Interesting)
You are absolutely correct. This concept is called "constructive reduction to practice". There are several ways of satisfying this concept, most preferably being a US patent application that complies with 35 U.S.C. 112. Other examples that would typically be accepted as constructive reduction to practice would be blue prints for a machine, source code for a software related invention, or the lab procedure to make a chemical compound.
Many people who don't work around patents get caught up in whether or not "a person of ordinary skill in the art" actually could make and use the invention as disclosed in a patent application. Unfortunately for their arguments, this is an almost trivial condition to meet. If a person of ordinary skill in the art swears in an affidavit that he could reasonably make and use the invention, that's pretty much where this inquiry ends. Neither the courts nor the USPTO are interested in "Nuh-uh, Uh-huh" arguments about whether or not the patent application is fubared.
The patent holder, on the other hand, does. If you try to litigate with a patent for insanity, the defense will tear you apart. You might be able to GET a patent with a silly affidavit, but you won't be able to ENFORCE it very well.
In this case, it appears that Sony has disclosed an apparatus and claimed the method of using it. NOWHERE is it guaranteed to work well, which is one of the safest patents to issue. If it doesn't work well, the chances are REALLY slim that anybody is going to infringe it. This isn't legal analysis, but it looks to me like Sony has paid the USPTO to provide them with some really expensive wallpaper.
Comment removed (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Patent on Vapor ? (Score:1, Interesting)
Microsoft regestered a patent to transmitt data and power through the human skin last year, do you think they have this already? Nope.
I think big companies are using the patent system the wrong way, and more stupid regulations will have to be made to stop them from doing this.
I think with crazy futuristic ideas like this, the patent office should realize that this hasn't even been researched yet and tell Sony to go make a Sci-fi movie about it or something.
This trend is going to KILL technology in the VERY near future. Except in places that don't have to follow our laws... Goodbye America as a superpower. Huh, would that be so bad?
Re:What about that third patent? (Score:4, Interesting)
And in other news... (Score:3, Interesting)
Seriously, this is just another example of why the patent office should be eliminated in favor of private licensing agreements, contracts, and NDAs. Let the company worry about enforcing their IP rights, which has the added benefit of preventing them from "protecting" IP they don't have.