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Microsoft Trying To Patent a 'Magic Wand'

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the also-patenting-bag-of-holding dept.

theodp writes "Newly-disclosed USPTO documents show that Microsoft is seeking patent protection for a 'Magic Wand,' a device with various gizmos and sensors that can manipulate and interact with its environment, including video and holographic images, while using biometrics to connect with the user. 'Even the most pragmatic individual,' explains Microsoft, 'would have trouble arguing against the merits or utility of, say, a magic wand that actually worked to control or communicate with objects or components in an associated nearby environment.' No doubt. The inventors include CXO/CTO J Allard, and Sr. Researcher Andy Wilson."

33 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. It's called a Wii-mote! by jholder · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Wonder if they get into trouble with Nintendo.

    --
    -- John
    1. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by Z00L00K · · Score: 5, Insightful

      And all other remote controls that already exists and has existed since "deity-knows-when".

      Even the director's wand at an orchestra is a form of remote. But not very advanced in itself.

      --
      If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker would destroy civilization.
    2. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by The+Grim+Reefer2 · · Score: 2, Funny

      I think Disney should get involved in this. After all, they released a 9 minute demonstration of it in 1940.

    3. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by redkcir · · Score: 2

      More likely it's ripping off these people. http://hackaday.com/2009/05/17/magic-wands-for-disney/ They released open source code for their project here. http://gitorious.org/fantasia

    4. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by Chazerizer · · Score: 2, Informative

      Even the director's wand at an orchestra is a form of remote. But not very advanced in itself.

      The word you're looking for is "baton".

    5. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by hey! · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, it's more than a wii-mote. The question is how much more than the sum of the additions? I think that's a critical question.

      I'm wary of any kind of kitchen-sink approach to inventing. An invention should somehow be more than the sum of its parts, otherwise where's the originality? If you said, take a wii-mote and add this one specific element and now something qualitatively new becomes possible, then you'd have a good argument that you invented something. If you say, take a wii-mote and add everything you can think onto it, and gee, it does more than the original wii-mote, that's not very creative.

      --
      Post may contain irony: discontinue use if experiencing mood swings, nausea or elevated blood pressure.
    6. Re:It's called a Wii-mote! by Reed+Solomon · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Even the director's wand at an orchestra is a form of remote. But not very advanced in itself.

      Ah, Music, A magic beyond all we do here at Hogwarts!

      Seriously though, I've long considered the idea of a so called "magic wand" as being the penultimate input device for a holographic mobile computer. second only to simple gestures in air.

      although in the meantime I'd be happy with embedded high definition video screens in normal looking glasses attached to the cell phone in my pocket perhaps with 3G/wifi.

  2. Vas Flam! by GigaHurtsMyRobot · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have prior art, I was born with a magic wand!

    1. Re:Vas Flam! by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Funny
      I have prior art, I was born with a magic wand!

      Yes?

      And do you put on your robe and wizard hat before you use it?

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  3. First result on search for "Magic Wand" by Moryath · · Score: 2, Funny

    This is the first search result for "magic wand":

    http://www.amazon.com/Vibratex-HV-250R-Hitachi-Magic-Massager/dp/B00005M1WE

    I think MS needs to rethink their naming. I doubt this is what they have in mind. Besides, the Wii beat them to it in designing a controller that looks like a sex toy.

    1. Re:First result on search for "Magic Wand" by loutr · · Score: 3, Funny

      I think MS needs to rethink their naming. I doubt this is what they have in mind.

      Then again we're talking about the company whose CEO wants to squirt you pictures of his kids...

    2. Re:First result on search for "Magic Wand" by Tablizer · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think MS needs to rethink their naming.

      Wandows?
         

      --
      Table-ized A.I.
  4. Don't forget the ORIGINAL Magic Wand! by blahbooboo · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Surely someone is going to point out the comparison to the original magic wand? I think this might prevent Micro$oft's patent as it came out in the 1970s??

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16896630001

    1. Re:Don't forget the ORIGINAL Magic Wand! by Locke2005 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Man, the customer reviews for that product are hilarious! "Worst mothers day ever" indeed!

      --
      I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
  5. The Doctor called... by DigitalSorceress · · Score: 5, Funny

    The Doctor called... He wants to have a word with them about his sonic screwdriver.

    --

    The Digital Sorceress
  6. It's called a universal remote by kawabago · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It's time Microsoft stopped inventing things that already exist!

  7. Sure, they can patent a magic wand, by FlyingSquidStudios · · Score: 4, Funny

    but they still can't use it to make Vista disappear.

    --
    http://twitter.com/OLDTELEGRAM
    1. Re:Sure, they can patent a magic wand, by ozmanjusri · · Score: 5, Insightful
      but they still can't use it to make Vista disappear.

      Maybe.

      But their magical marketing team has managed to transmogrify a thinly veiled facelift of it into the widely hyped Windows 7.

      --
      "I've got more toys than Teruhisa Kitahara."
  8. That could actually be fun by v1 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Having something that operates a bit like a wii controller combined with a universal remote.

    Imagine pointing the wand at your receiver and giving an upward flitting motion and the receiver bumps up the volume. or flick to the right and it changes stations or goes to the next track. Twirl it in a circle clockwise to turn on or counterclockwise to turn off etc.

    And would only react to the device you point at. (might have to establish separate gestures for nearby components etc)

    I'd buy that.

    --
    I work for the Department of Redundancy Department.
    1. Re:That could actually be fun by Overzeetop · · Score: 2, Funny

      Combining the accuracy of the Wiimote with a gestural interface seems like a very bad idea.

      --
      Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  9. For what its worth... by rodney+dill · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... As long as it works by magic, and not technology, give 'em the patent.

    --

    Use your head, can't you, use your head,
    You're on earth, there's no cure for that     - S. Beckett
  10. the USPTO should by FudRucker · · Score: 2, Interesting

    turn this down, it is too generic, it should be impossible to patent an idea or concept, only actual products manufactured should be patentable...

    --
    Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
  11. I see your shwartz is a big as mine... by genghisjahn · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...let's see how well you use it. And so began the great wand battle of '09 between MS and Nintendo.

    --
    Sorry about the mess.
  12. OT: Paid by word? by JustinOpinion · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Somewhat off-topic, but the wording in patent applications always amuses me. For instance, the abstract says:

    The architecture can utilize one or more sensor from a collection of sensors to determine an orientation or gesture in connection with the wand, and can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component based upon the orientation.

    They say "one or more sensor from a collection of sensors", which is redundant. They could just say "sensors". And why say "can further issue an instruction to update a state of an environmental component" when it is simpler to just say "can update another component"?

    The architecture can utilize sensors to determine orientation or gesture of the wand, and can update another component based upon the orientation.

    I understand the need for precision. And I guess if they don't claim "one or more sensors" then someone can try to circumvent the patent by doing the same thing with only one single sensor (or whatever). But it still sounds ridiculous, and is no excuse for making confusing sentences. So many sentences are needlessly complicated or outright superfluous. Is there really no better way to word patents?

    Can anyone comment? Is that kind of wording truly necessary for the patent to be robust, or is the wording intentionally obtuse and confusing, so that they can later use the ambiguity to argue for broader applicability?

    1. Re:OT: Paid by word? by acohen1 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I was a co-inventor on a recent patent application and I can attest that pretty much all patents are written this way to make them as precise and robust as possible. Sometimes these phrases like "a collection of sensors" might refer specifically to a prior description or figure. Anyway, this is totally typical, and no the lawyers are not paid by word.

  13. Re:let me be the first to say by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Levitatus Chairus!"

    "Developamus! Developamus! Developamus!"

  14. No thanks.. .. by Ozric · · Score: 3, Funny

    [quote]device that can manipulate and interact with its environment[/quote]

    I will stick with the katana .. it manupulates and interacts with the phyical enviroment very well.

    Does a good job on people with pesky magic wands too!

    No sensors or gizmos needed, and only effects what you point it.

    YMMV

  15. And the product will be named... by Junior+J.+Junior+III · · Score: 2, Funny

    Micosoft Wang.

    --
    You see? You see? Your stupid minds! Stupid! Stupid!
  16. Re:Not new by cayenne8 · · Score: 4, Funny
    Microsoft's New Magic Wand Promo:

    "It's not the size of the wand...but, the MAGIC behind it!!

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  17. Meh by srussia · · Score: 4, Funny

    Probably just a stretched-out Clippy.

    --
    Set your phasers on "funky"!
  18. Did they need to wait for Clarke to die first? by Torodung · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."

    And apparently, in their filing, Microsoft thinks that any sufficiently obvious idea is indistinguishable from innovation.

    --
    Toro

  19. How is this not a Wii controller? by pembo13 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's already in the shape of a wand. And it can do everything described with simple software updates. Do you get a patent just for using someone else's design now? And that's not considering how innovative the Wii controller is itself.

    --
    "Thanks for all the money you paid to us. We've used it to buy off ISO among other things" -Microsoft
  20. Voldemort called.... by jollyreaper · · Score: 3, Funny

    He claims prior Dark Art.

    --
    Kwisatz Haderach
    Sell the spice to CHOAM
    This Mahdi took Shaddam's Throne