Microsoft Seeks Patent On Shaming Fat Gamers

theodp writes "A newly disclosed Microsoft patent application — Avatar Individualized by Physical Characteristic — takes aim at fat people, proposing to generate fat avatars in gaming environments for individuals whose health records indicate they're overweight, limiting their game play, and even banning them. From the patent application: 'An undesirable body weight could be reflected in an overweight or underweight appearance for the avatar. Only requisite health levels are allowed to compete in a certain competition level. A dedicated gamer could exercise for a period of time until his health indicator gadget shows a sufficiently high health/health credit in order to allow reentering the avatar environment.' Linking one's gaming avatar to one's physique, explains Microsoft, will produce healthy and virtuous behaviors in individuals. Microsoft also proposes shaping gaming experiences by using 'psychological and demographic information such as education level, geographic location, age, sex, intelligence quotient, socioeconomic class, occupation, marital/relationship status, religious belief, political affiliation, etc.'"

Comments

Hope you have permission for that photo -- poor ki

[Anonymous Coward]

I hope that the photo of the overweight dressed with Nintendo garb is from someone you know, and that they gave permission for you to humiliate them in front of thousands of other people.

Otherwise, it's cruel. He probably meant for that photo to remain private.

The poor kid needs your encouragement, not your ridicule. Can I find some embarrassing photos of you when you were a kid and post them online?

how about

[unity100]

a strong kick in the face, to beat some sensitivity into you instead ?

Re:Its an american problem again.

[Blakey Rat]

you and your obsessions. fat people are not discriminated against or humiliated in any way in my country. the country is turkey.

I guess the Turkish obsession is insulting entire nations on messageboards, eh?

and i have never yet seen any other country nearby, leave aside any european countries in which overweight people were ridiculed, belittled, bullied or discriminated against in any respect.

They aren't in the US, either. So... what's your point?

i very much have the idea that you people are so obsessed with your own socioeconomical circumstances,

And "you people" are not? People in Turkey say, "I'm so happy I'm poor and unloved! I'd never obsess over this!"

Maybe you should travel outside Turkey and find out how much like you everybody else is. Hint: A fucking LOT.