Slashdot Mirror
New Patent on TV Forces You to Watch Ads
WebHostingGuy writes "A patent application filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office says researchers of the Netherland-based consumer electronics company have created a technology that could let broadcasters freeze a channel during a commercial, so viewers wouldn't be able to avoid it. Philips acknowledged that this technology might not sit well with consumers and suggested in its patent filing that consumers be allowed to avoid the feature if they paid broadcasters a fee."
The thing I don't like on TV are all the repeats... (or "dupes" as they're known in the trade).
Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
Yes, I would much rather pay a fee to be allowed to change channels. What makes them think that we will be happy with either option?
I have nothing to hide. So, why are you spying on me?
Maybe next they'll make it so that you can't turn the TV off, or maybe it will helpfully pause that commercial for you if you get up to go to the bathroom or the kitchen.
NINJA SPIRIT - The Ancient Art of Insanity
Someone finally found a way to make to make people go back to reading books. Good work, guys.
I'm off to patent magazines that refuse to let you turn the page for 30 seconds if there's an ad on it.
1) Forbid viewers from switching channels during commercials.
2) Forbid viewers from turning off their TV's.
3) Get promoted to CEO of Network 23.
4) Rule the World!
Bwahhhahahahahaha!
Quick, someon patent a technology that makes me unable to get up and take a dump while commercials are playing. Maybe a special chair that's required while watching TV. When the commercials come on, metal rings bolt my arms and legs to the chair so I can't get up. Then, a little robotic arm comes out of the headrest and holds my eyelids open so I can't close my eyes. The volume on the TV is autoatically turned up so that I am unable to think of anything else while I am bombarded with the new Chili's advertisement.
Man, I'm gonna be rich...
-Arthur
Cave ne ante ullas catapultas ambules
No, no, they will make it so that the bathroom door doesn't open while the commercial is playing. Problem solved.
--jeffk++
ipv6 is my vpn
New Patent on Slashdot Forces You to Read Articles Twice (if you're lucky).
just revert to extortion.
Nothing to see here, please move along.
After a word from our spons
<I don't know how to pause text, but when I figure it out, I'll patent it for web advertsements>
Hmmm... apparently it worked since you actually remember the commercials.
My "favourite" TV quote which can probably be heard a hundred times a day: "Stay tuned, we'll be right back." This is usually my cue to pick up the remote control. If they really wanted me to stay tuned, they wouldn't have gone away in the first place.
A hammer will do the job sufficiently...
"Because a law will come and require this kind of tech in all sets"
Then they better also ensure that the power supply for the TV and set-top box are hardwired into the wall, and that the mains fusebox is protected by a combination code. Otherwise, some knucklehead customers are going to switch off the entire setup at whatever access point is available, just out of principle.
Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
and we are being forced to watch it again
-- lol pwned
>>But there is one good thing it would do. Make people stop watching tv in the first place.
That's funny. I thought the same thing when I saw "American Idol".
Ryosen
One man's "Troll, +1" is another man's "Insightful, +1".
Then what the hell am I paying $80/month for?
Don't back-talk your pimp!
*smack*
I pity the foo that isn't metasyntactic
I hear that Slashdot has a patent on a technology that forces you to read the same articles over and over again.
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
Each day, as I read more and more about how content providers are trying to control our view habits, I am reminded of the old Max Headroom show where Corporations ruled and Ratings were more important than anything else.
We better prepare to get off the grid!
Blanks Unite!
But how will we know when and where to unite if we're not connected?