Microsoft Patents Virtual Handshakes, Hugs 87
theodp writes "'It can be tough to stay connected over long distances,' writes GeekWire's Todd Bishop. 'Yes, there's phone calls, texting, Facebook, Twitter, IM, video chatting and everything else. But what if you could give virtual hugs to each other using battery-powered, Internet-enabled pillows?' That — and more — is covered by Microsoft's newly-awarded patent on Force-Feedback Within Telepresence, the idea of using interactive, connected devices to bring physical interactions to long-distance communications. Readers of Ted Nelson's 1975 Computer Lib/Dream Machines can only imagine the interesting possibilities for Skype!"
prior art (Score:2, Interesting)
There was a joke a while back about physically punching people through the computer screen, and today we have vibrators that work exactly like this (and vibrating underwear). Wouldn't that be prior art and an example of longdistance physical activity between people?
Re:Prior art (Score:4, Interesting)
Wasn't there a Big Bang Theory episode that feature this technique?
Yes, Howard had a Remote Kissing Machine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9KXKbBKp1A [youtube.com]
Re:This should not be patentable. (Score:4, Interesting)
If we all ignore them, wont they go away?
Anybody know an easy way to get Slashdot to filter out *all* patent related stories? They are always ridiculous, even when they're accurate!
I had enough of this crap when I wasn't allowed to make a protocol I was implementing work as efficiently as it could, because Motorola had a patent on the concept of "Pardon? Could you repeat yourself please?" in this particular context. Utterly freaking ridiculous.
The current patent system does not encourage innovation -- it encourages taking out patents.
Hint -- follow the money.