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IBM Patents Tweeting Remote Control
Fluffeh writes "IBM has applied for a patent on a network-enabled smart remote control that sends out a message to Twitter, Facebook or a blog when you start watching a TV show." Hopefully this launches an exciting patent landgrab of devices that are socially enabled. Your car can tweet when you leave your garage. Your dishwasher can tweet when the load is done. Your skillet can tweet when your eggs are burnt. And they say innovation is dead.
Couple of months ago I was in Agile training at work and our ad-hoc group was tasked with making a better mouse trap. We decided to create a mouse trap (on paper) that would report its status via Twitter. Whether the trap was sprung, caught a mouse, was out of bait, etc.
Seems like it would be great to have a private network of twitter-enabled devices where only you or friends would be able to monitor their status. There's way too many privacy concerns with an open network like Twitter.
Reviewing just the first hour of video games.
The primary reason why AutoProfile is not prior art is because the IBM patent specifically refers to a: remote controller, suitable for use while viewing media programming and content
I primarily use my computer to "view media programming and content." The remote controller in this context is usually called a computer mouse.
and:
The enhanced remote controller allows the viewer to both communicate with a blogging server, and thus to a blogging service, as well as to display responses to and from other bloggers with whom the viewer is communicating. These blog communications may be accomplished without the viewer having to leave the broadcast receiver of the television.
which AutoProfile is not and has no functionality for.
Sorry, wrong plugin.
If it's the fact the remote can post twitter updates, how is it any different than a nokia tablet with mythetomer? Or a phone that can also be used as a remote control? I use bluetooth to change the channels on my MythTv for example, and could you really say your tivo isn't technically a computer?
I'm aware that Nokia and Motorola didn't specifically design a phone for this purpose, but it probably is already used as such by some users.
While I don't deny that there are a *lot* of people who are probably doing exactly this, I think this has become a bit of a stereotype for the average twitter user. I have quite a few friends who will tweet when they find a new/interesting app or article online, or if they're looking for suggestions for a place to eat/an application/whatever else pops into their head. I don't care who watched what on TV last night either, but if one of my friends finds a cool iPod/iPhone app or some interesting bit of news online, Twitter is a good way to share that info.
I don't use twitter myself, but I do visit occasionally and don't think it's exclusively used to the entirely pointless ends that are constantly suggested here.