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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."

8 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)
  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. Wonder if they will assist.. by CIANCHAMBLISS · · Score: 5, Funny

    First Clippy, now Dicey?

  6. 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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  7. 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