Microsoft Applies For "Digital Manners" Patent

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."

Comments

Re:Prior Art ?

[PatrickThomson]

Might I risk a troll and speculate that, in fact, it was your SoC project that got rejected?

It did, and it didn't work out well.

[plasmacutter]

Airbus in particular had this system installed on its planes. There were numerous crashes and narrowly averted disasters because the pilots were wrestling with the plane when it refused to maneuver properly thanks to faulty data or unforeseen circumstances.

The system lasted in that form for a few months before the humans were given an override button.