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Microsoft Patents The Body Bus
Mz6 writes "Microsoft has been awarded a patent for using
human skin as a power conduit and data bus. Patent No.
6,754,472, which was published Tuesday, describes a method for transmitting power and data to devices worn on the body and for communication of data between those devices. In its filing, Microsoft cites the proliferation of wearable electronic devices, such as wristwatches, pagers, PDAs (worn on people's belts) and small displays that can now be mounted on headgear. "As a result of carrying multiple portable electronic devices, there is often a significant amount of redundancy in terms of input/output devices included in the portable devices used by a single person," says the filing. "For example, a watch, pager, PDA and radio may all include a speaker." To reduce the redundancy of input/output devices, Microsoft's patent proposes a personal area network that allows a single data input or output device to be used by multiple portable devices." (What about DoCoMo's research in this area?)
..... Micrsoft to sue all future survivors of lightning strikes.
I'm an EE, and I don't want my wife to inherit a lawsuit for patent infringement. ;)
+5:offtopic,but anti-American
Somehow, the topic icon of Bill as a Borg seems more appropriate than ever.
A beowulf.
No, really!
When any of your portable devices detect that the DRM has been violated for their IP, they would like the wearer of the device to recieve a powerful electric shock, capable of causing paralysis.
...Microsoft have announced they are patenting the use of the human body as a energy source for computers.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
The Microsoft Slashdot icon has never been more accurate that it is with this article. Where are they getting the human skin to test this on? Interns? Seriously, though... just stick your finger into these electrodes, please.
Now that we can all be Borg, so I just want to know how long before we have Borg incubation chambers? Anyone with kids will back me on this... we need them. I would think the skin bus might cause cancer, wouldn't you? No FUD about it... this could be some scary shit when you consider Microsoft's security record, as well.
The dangers of knowledge trigger emotional distress in human beings.
They are also patenting the human built-in telescopic antenna array. Unfortunately, it will only be available to approximately 50% of the population.
When I was 5 I discovered electricity for myself by sticking a fork in an outlet. Thereby proving Benjamin Franklin right and developing prior art to use against Microsoft. Ah, the follies of youth.
Comparing it to Windows will be a moot point, since El Dorado is going to have a 40% larger code base than XP.
I beta tested the stuff, and now my butt won't stop rebooting...
Resistence is futile... errr... patented.
Those who can, do. Those who can't, consult.
I stumbled across this link, and although it strictly deals with bandwidth (not also with power, as in the Microsoft technology), it must be posted.
...*ducks*
Because, although many of us have suspected it before, it is now pretty much obvious that sooner or later, penises will have higher bandwidths than cable modems.
Brings a whole new meaning to the networking term "trunk".
I can see it now:
Defendant: No, no, no your honor, you've got it all wrong! Her battery died and I was just jumpstarting her devices!
Judge: Couldn't you have just shaken her hand?
Defendant: I thought if we got our juices flowing, maybe the conductivity would be greater?
Help a college student
well, with the download well present in the other 50% of the population, data mining just became a helluva lot more fun!
If ever there was justifiable reason to use the Borg icon instead of patent pending, I think this was it ...
: )
It'd bring a whole new meaning to having "worms"...
Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
My brain is prior art.
It gets it's energy from my body, and uses it as a data bus to send messages to my various other parts.
What about the times I used to hold a coat hanger in one hand, and grab the TV antenna with the other, in order to get a good signal? My body was used to carry data then (although it was analog).