Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

MS Seeks Patent On Virtual Fuzzy Dice

Posted by kdawson on from the scent-of-virtual-pine-sol dept.

theodp writes "Microsoft just published a patent application for an adaptive heads-up user interface for automobiles. It covers, among other things, virtual fuzzy dice that appear to move with automobile movements."

4 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Great by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Just what we need from a heads-up display: something which conveys no useful information and serves only to distract the driver from their main job of keeping the car on the road. This strikes me as a perfect example of the rule that, simply because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

    1. Re:Great by somersault · · Score: 4, Insightful

      "Simply because you can do something, doesn't mean you should."

      I thought that was one of Microsofts' main beliefs.. simply because they can put out (largely) pointless new versions of Office and Windows, they do. They also charge insane amounts for little extra functionality, just because they can. At least people are catching on a bit with Vista.

      --
      which is totally what she said
  2. Re:Obviousness Criteria by GIL_Dude · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm not sure it would even be that useful if GM/Ford/BWM or whoever did it. It would probably be ad-supported anyway. Can you just imagine?

    Hey, driver - you need new wiper blades. Check out the specials at Pep Boys (tm)! While there, get an oil change!

    I just hope that never comes true!

  3. Re:Obviousness Criteria by djh101010 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh, and the laptop is one year old, so it was six months old when it started this crap.

    Seems to me, that'd be a great time to call Dell for a warranty replacement of the battery. Make their advertising scheme cost them. "Your app tells me that my battery, which is only 6 months old, is already crap. Send me a new one."