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Amazon Seeks 1-Nod Ordering Patent

Posted by timothy on from the sold-to-the-gentleman-with-the-slight-facial-tic dept.

theodp writes "Amazon.com is famous for its patented 1-Click ordering system. But what about 1-Nod ordering? Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos is seeking a patent on a system that would let people make purchases with a nod, a smile, or even a raise of the eyebrow. Bezos' invention — 'Movement Recognition as Input Mechanism' — envisions a computing device that could interpret certain facial expressions and enhance or potentially replace conventional input devices such as keypads and touch screens."

4 of 194 comments (clear)

  1. Isn't this standard practice at auctions? by cjonslashdot · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I thought that simply automating a non-automated process is not sufficient to obtain a patent. At many auctions one can bid simply with a nod.

  2. Not exactly innovative. by BiggerIsBetter · · Score: 5, Insightful

    He wants a patent on a centuries old auction bid technique? But on a computer? Whateva... besides, there must be plenty of published techniques for more generic movement-as-input already - it's been a popular research topic.

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    Forget thrust, drag, lift and weight. Airplanes fly because of money.
  3. But it is on a *computer* by dsginter · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The patent office will rubber-stamp anything obvious if it is done on a computer. The one-click patent is a wonderful example: for decades, bartenders have been taking a patron's credit card and setting it aside. This allows the patron to simply "run a tab" and order a beer with just one click of the finger. This can't be patented because it is obvious to everyone.

    But, if you do it on a computer, you can patent it for some reason. The mind boggles.

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    1. Re:But it is on a *computer* by qubezz · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The beauty here: this is patenting the problem and not the solution.

      Where are the code snippets, the algorithms to detect the motions, the heuristics to reject false positives in this patent application?

      It would have been so much easier for Edison if he could patent the idea 'glass bulb that produces light when electricity flows through it', instead of actually showing that he could do it.

      The USPTO seems to think that this is fine these days though - patenting an idea instead of an invention.