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Microsoft Applies For "Digital Manners" Patent

Posted by samzenpus on from the what-mouse-do-you-use-for-salad dept.

SirLurksAlot writes "Ars Technica reports that Microsoft has recently applied for a patent for a technology which would attempt to enforce manners in the use of cell phones, digital cameras, DVRs and other digital devices. According to the article, the technology could be used to bring common social conventions such as 'No flash photography' and 'No talking out loud' to these devices by disabling features or disabling the device entirely. The article also points out that the technology could be implemented in situations involving sensitive equipment, such as in airplanes or hospitals. The patent application itself is also an interesting read, as it describes a number of possible uses for the technology, including 'in particular zones to limit the speed and/or acceleration of vehicles, to require the use of lights, to verify an indication of insurance coverage and/or current registration, or the like.' While this technology could certainly be of interest to any number of organizations one has to wonder how the individuals who own devices which obey so-called 'Digital Manners Policies' would feel about it."

5 of 289 comments (clear)

  1. Good job by Hal_Porter · · Score: 5, Funny

    this technology is not already in Windows say I can still say what a bunch of

    [Bad manners deleted]

    --
    echo -e 'global _start\n _start:\n mov eax, 2\n int 80h\n jmp _start' > a.asm; nasm a.asm -f elf; ld a.o -o a;
  2. It's a feature not a bug by mrbluze · · Score: 5, Funny

    So this is "innovation", eh? It will result in The Most Broken Windows Yet(TM) once people get frustrated enough with devices that refuse to work.
    --
    Do it yourself, because no one else will do it yourself. [beta blockade 10-17 Feb]
  3. manners by alxtoth · · Score: 5, Funny

    ..No Windows at MacWorld/Linux conferences

    --
    http://revj.sourceforge.net
  4. Bank robbers cheers by Pofy · · Score: 5, Funny

    In other news, bank robbers cheers at their new tool to bring along that will disable all cameras when performing robberies.

    Cell phone users are also wondering why their phones tend to stop working every other minute. Investigation shows one out of five person in the public carrying their own "no phone calls here" devices arround.

    Finally paparazzis express no worries. They will just keep a slightly longer distance to their targets and thus avoid any "no photos here" devices carried arround by most celebrities.

  5. Re:Innovation by Undead+NDR · · Score: 5, Funny

    So this is "innovation", eh?

    dgtlmnrs.exe: WARNING: No Microsoft bashing.