Amazon Seeks 1-Nod Ordering Patent 194
theodp writes "Amazon.com is famous for its patented 1-Click ordering system. But what about 1-Nod ordering? Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is seeking a patent on a system that would let people make purchases with a nod, a smile, or even a raise of the eyebrow. Bezos' invention — 'Movement Recognition as Input Mechanism' — envisions a computing device that could interpret certain facial expressions and enhance or potentially replace conventional input devices such as keypads and touch screens."
Isn't this standard practice at auctions? (Score:5, Insightful)
Not exactly innovative. (Score:5, Insightful)
He wants a patent on a centuries old auction bid technique? But on a computer? Whateva... besides, there must be plenty of published techniques for more generic movement-as-input already - it's been a popular research topic.
Oh FFS (Score:1, Insightful)
We get it. You want to patent ordering. Brick&mortar: Walmart. Everything else: Amazon. That's how you want it to be, right, Jeff? You're part of the reason why people are increasingly opposed to the whole concept of patenting.
But it is on a *computer* (Score:5, Insightful)
The patent office will rubber-stamp anything obvious if it is done on a computer. The one-click patent is a wonderful example: for decades, bartenders have been taking a patron's credit card and setting it aside. This allows the patron to simply "run a tab" and order a beer with just one click of the finger. This can't be patented because it is obvious to everyone.
But, if you do it on a computer, you can patent it for some reason. The mind boggles.
What's the point? (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously, what's the point of this? Ordering things online is already easy. Does Bezos really think there's a whole untapped market out there of people who would like to buy something but find clicking links too exhausting? I wonder how those customers managed to navigate his website in the first place.
Re:But it is on a *computer* (Score:5, Insightful)
The beauty here: this is patenting the problem and not the solution.
Where are the code snippets, the algorithms to detect the motions, the heuristics to reject false positives in this patent application? [uspto.gov]
It would have been so much easier for Edison if he could patent the idea 'glass bulb that produces light when electricity flows through it', instead of actually showing that he could do it.
The USPTO seems to think that this is fine these days though - patenting an idea instead of an invention.
Is there a 'stupid' tag ? (Score:3, Insightful)