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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."

16 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Air freshener by mattb112885 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did they patent a virtual air freshener too? Because I really need one.

  2. Obviousness Criteria by ThosLives · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hopefully this will fail the new obviousness criteria; note that it is still just an application. Basically, they are combining existing technologies in their obvious functionality: methods to change configuration information and display various information to vehicle operators.

    I don't see any innovation here at all; they are combining elements and the result is the expected result for combining those elements.

    --
    "There are a dozen opinions on a matter until you know the truth. Then there is only one." - CS Lewis (paraprhase)
    1. 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!

    2. Re:Obviousness Criteria by conspirator57 · · Score: 3, Interesting

      My dell here does that for me. It's let me know for the past 6 months that my battery "is still working, but nearing the end of its useful life." The same notice provides a handy "come on down to the web dealership..." notice and link to dell's shop. It does this each time the laptop starts. Oh, and the laptop is one year old, so it was six months old when it started this crap.

      --
      "If still these truths be held to be
      Self evident."
      -Edna St. Vincent Millay
    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."
  3. I'll say! by ClayJar · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did they patent a virtual air freshener too? Because I really need one. I'll say. I can virtually smell you from here. :D
  4. I have some... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I have some fuzzy dangling things that they can try and patent.

    1. Re:I have some... by CrtxReavr · · Score: 5, Funny

      If you'd wipe better, you wouldn't have so much prior art.

      -CR

      --
      "So is the BSD licence even more 'free' (than GPLv2)? Yes. Unquestionably." --Linus Torvalds (TinyURL.com/2vugzl)
  5. 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
  6. What will they patent next... by downix · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can't wait till the virtual dancing hula girl arrives.... She could probably even dance to show you the direction to turn when plugged into your GPS.

    --
    Karma Whoring for Fun and Profit.
  7. Wonder if they will assist.. by CIANCHAMBLISS · · Score: 5, Funny

    First Clippy, now Dicey?

  8. Re:queue microsoft crash jokes by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will there be a GPS-based clippy that gives directions to places you don't want to go?

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  9. Re:Arcades by Neon+Spiral+Injector · · Score: 3, Informative

    Sega's Rad Mobile had a virtual, fuzzy, Sonic dangling from the rear-view. He bounced and swayed with the movements of the car.

  10. Re:queue microsoft crash jokes by Andrewkov · · Score: 3, Funny

    "You appear to be in an accident, air bags are about to deploy. Cancel or Allow?"

  11. So... What's Next? by blcamp · · Score: 3, Funny


    A patent on Virtual Flying Chairs?!

    --
    The problem with socialism is that they always run out of other people's money. - Margaret Thatcher