Slashdot Mirror
Apple Awarded Gesture-Control Patent
mpicpp points out a report that Apple has been awarded a broad patent for gesture control of a computer interface (8,933,876). The company inherited the patent after their acquisition of motion-sensor company PrimeSense in 2013. (PrimeSense's technology is used in Microsoft's Kinect gesture control system.) Here's the patent's abstract:
A method, including receiving, by a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of a sensing device coupled to the computer, the gesture including a first motion in a first direction along a selected axis in space, followed by a second motion in a second direction, opposite to the first direction, along the selected axis. Upon detecting completion of the gesture, the non-tactile 3D user interface is transitioned from a first state to a second state.
... they have a patent for waving?
Which has more power: the hammer, or the anvil?
It looks like the verbiage only describes gestures that consist of a movement back and forth. Most gestures wouldn't be like that...
Abstracts are meaningless. Post claims, or don't bother posting anything.
It's blatantly obvious that the way the world deals with patents, copyright, and trademarks is in desperate need of an overhaul. We are nearly all sufferers of these now somewhat ridiculous legal systems, even though the basic premise of them was fairly well-intentioned. Now they simply belong to the corporations with the biggest bank balances, which in turn are some of the most powerful lobby groups, swaying various authorities, policy makers, lawmakers, and governments in the directions they desire, effectively controlling things as long as their line of credit remains solid.
I'm not suggesting burn it all down, but surely some smarter people than me can figure out a way to fix this giant mess.
Can't wait to see which company is the first to patent the use of the middle finger to tell your computer to f- off.
This is the novel bit they have: "...the gesture comprising a rising motion along a vertical axis in space wherein the hand performs the rising motion for at least an unlock gesture distance at a minimum unlock gesture speed; and transitioning the non-tactile 3D user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state upon detecting completion of the gesture" Every other gesture is still fair game.
This patent covers how to unlock a computer by raising your hand vertically about 20 cm. It's limited to that, so it's hardly "broad".
Quick Analysis of the independent claims (the broadest ones):
Claim 1. A method, comprising: receiving, by a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of a sensing device coupled to the computer, the gesture comprising a rising motion along a vertical axis in space wherein the hand performs the rising motion for at least an unlock gesture distance at a minimum unlock gesture speed; and transitioning the non-tactile 3D user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state upon detecting completion of the gesture.
Summary: Covers raising your hand to unlock a computer.
Claims 2,3,4 & 5 add additional specifics around this.
Claim 6. An apparatus, comprising: a sensing device; and a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface and configured to receive, from the sensing device, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of the sensing device, the gesture comprising a rising motion along a vertical axis in space wherein the hand performs the rising motion for at least an unlock gesture distance at a minimum unlock gesture speed, and to transition the non-tactile 3D user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state upon detecting completion of the gesture.
Summary: Same as #1, but it's for an apparatus. It's still to unlock a computer.
Claims 7,8,9,10 just add detail to Claim 6.
Claim 11: A computer software product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable medium, in which program instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by a computer executing a non-tactile user interface, cause the computer to receive, from a sensing device, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of the sensing device, the gesture comprising a rising motion along a vertical axis in space wherein the hand performs the rising motion for at least an unlock gesture distance at a minimum unlock gesture speed, and to transition the non-tactile 3D user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state upon detecting completion of the gesture.
Summary: This makes the invention a machine rather just an algorithm, because that like makes it patentable.
Claim 12: A method, comprising: receiving, by a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of a sensing device coupled to the computer, the gesture comprising a rising motion along a vertical axis in space; determining whether the gesture of the hand included a rising of the hand by at least 20 centimeters; and transitioning the non-tactile 3D user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state upon detecting completion of the gesture, wherein the transitioning of the user interface from a locked state to an unlocked state is performed only if the upward gesture included a rise of the hand by at least 20 centimeters.
Summary: The cherry on top claim that just sums up all the others into one that is actually what the invention most likely does in real life.
A loud clatter of gunk music flooded through the Heart of Gold cabin as Zaphod searched the sub-etha radio wave bands for news of himself. The machine was rather difficult to operate. For years radios had been operated by means of pressing buttons and turning dials; then as the technology became more sophisticated the controls were made touch-sensitive--you merely had to brush the panels with your fingers; now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope. It saved a lot of muscular expenditure, of course, but meant that you had to sit infuriatingly still if you wanted to keep listening to the same program.
Zaphod waved a hand and the channel switched again.
One of the featured articles is the patent on USPTO.gov. Open it and search for "We claim:". Here's the key independent claim:
In other words, move your hand upward in front of a camera to "slide to unlock". Dependent claims 2-5, which are used if prior art anticipating this claim is later discovered, include specific means of visual feedback as well as specifying the unlock gesture as maintaining 4 cm/s over a distance of 20 cm. Claims 6-10 are for a machine that recognizes this gesture, and claims 11-12 are for recognizing it in software on a general-purpose computer.
Chris Schmandt did this a while back at MIT. Gestures plus voice recognition. Guess you can get a patent if leave out the voice recognition part. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... ( original demo )
Douglas Adams wrote:
now all you had to do was wave your hand in the general direction of the components and hope
Which means Apple improved on this by requiring the user to first move his hand in a specific direction (up eight inches) to get the radio's attention before signing to it.
So very wrong...
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
What a load of crap! Is this all they can do?
Not hard to guess what. Imagine if any of us could patent it!
Also imagine if anyone had a patent of any movement by our hands (fingers), arms or any other body part to interact with devices man made or not.
Would we be today pressing keys on a board or mouse buttons? With luck probably flipping switches and rotating dials or inserting punctured cards for someone had the common sense such should never be filed for a patent much less granted one.
I remember trying the power glove out for Nintendo.. It was terrible. But I figured out in Pinball Quest if I flipped off the TV the right flipper be triggered and if I did the up yours gesture it triggered the left flipper.
s/©//g
supposedly, a predefined set of gestures will be allowed and you will be able to be more by $0.99 a piece. Controversial gestures will be banned from the gesture store unless you jailbreak yourself, but then you may be terminated.
http://tech.slashdot.org/story...
Poor Ubi....... and it was soooo cute.......
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law he tore his robes.2Kings22:11
Are they patenting a specific sensor apparatus here, or is it just raising your hand? I could understand if it's a specific type of sensor, but patenting something like raising your hand is ridiculous. Especially when we had non tactile motion controls on mainstream things like the PS2 as far back as 2003. If this is just a gesture, how in the hell does that warrant a patent?
XDInd
You'd think that'd be something they'd have cracked open their scrooge mcduck vault for.
Claim 1: "A method, including receiving, by a computer executing a non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface, a set of multiple 3D coordinates representing a gesture by a hand positioned within a field of view of a sensing device coupled to the computer, the gesture including a first motion with a closed fist in a first direction along a selected axis in space, followed by a second motion of raising the middle finger in the same direction".
Claim 2 "As per claim one, where the raising of the middle finger is replaced by raising the the pinky and index fingers in the same direction".
Claim 3: "As per claim 1, except that the first motion of the hand is raised in a closed fist, with the thumb pointing up, then a second motion in a different axis where the thumb ends up pointing down."
"Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
You've invented the wave/nod.
Somebody broke joystick support in Yosemite. Of course, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense given how little Apple cares about joysticks in general.
Can they patent my dick up their ass?
The "first inventor to file" rule introduced by the America Invents Act of 2011, following a similar change by Canada in 1989, covers only interference between two patent applications. It does not weaken the novelty requirement, which means existing works that teach the same invention still invalidate the patent, even if these works are not patents.
Their patent covers unlocking the device by moving the and up at least 20cm (7.5 inches), then back down again. Moving your hand up and down a few inches while sitting in front of your computer - something many Slashdot readers have a lot of practice doing.
I have been waving to activate Moto X phones for over a year now. How in the heck is this patentable? Just like Apple to steal someone else's idea and boldly claim it as a new feature or technology. Apple pay? sorry I have been Google Walleting since 2011. iCloud? Way to be 3 years behind the rest of the computing world snApple and still have a sorry excuse for a cloud computing platform.
Theremin. Patented in 1928.
"I am now telling the computer exactly what it can do with a lifetime supply of chocolate"
j'ai découvert une démonstration vraiment admirable (de ce théorème général) que cette si
Surely these patents are already covered under the leap motion system as well as kinect - that damn thing handles both hands at once and each finger can be assigned a gesture
Come on. I have used this exact same method on a Windows Mobile 5 device (HTC Touch HD) waaaay back when, using the accelerometer and gravity to determine how my screen was moving and moving a virtual object in virtual space and showing that on my phone's screen.
Not only that, but it's a rather OBVIOUS solution to a problem. Whatever happened to the "non-obvious" requirement?
-- Waht? Tehr's a preveiw buottn?
This was patented in 1928: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theremin
Does this cover the general idea of interface control with gestures or a specific way of pulling that off?
Wanna buy a shirt?
https://www.redbubble.com/people/stealthfinger/shop?asc=u
I saw the submitted drawing from Apple and you see a guy sitting away from desk waving at a desktop. Does anyone besides me find this not appealing in the least? Its another example of doing something because you can, rather then because it is a need or even a want. I think its clear, touch screens are already fading away and its another example of trying to re invent the wheel when we don't need too.
The original "non-tactile three dimensional (3D) user interface" was implemented as pairs of eyeballs, created by God and in public domain since at least day 6.
"I tore apart your stupid hosts file crapola." - by BarbaraHudson (3785311) on Tuesday August 19, 2014 @10:46AM (#47703255)
Where? You RAN from trying recently -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p... & you're FAIRLY given the opportunity to make good on those words of yours - you downmodded (via your many sockpuppets) & ran, lol, after your wise-ass comment on hosts here JUST before that challenge -> http://tech.slashdot.org/comme... quoted next below:
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"scans multiple forums repeatedly to troll his crappy HOSTS file " - by BarbaraHudson (3785311) on Sunday January 04, 2015 @11:58AM (#48730581) from http://tech.slashdot.org/comme...
I only post on them where they apply (or confronting naysayers like you). Prove otherwise!
(Oh, that's right - you're NOT BIG ON PROOF, are you? See below next...)
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"His only "legend in his own mind" was that he claimed that "his" hosts file could completely secure a windows computer. " - by tomhudson (43916) on Saturday February 12, @11:19AM (#35186644)
Where did I even *once* claim hosts completely secure a computer? Hosts are, however, the BEST single tool for more speed, security, reliability, & more. Prove otherwise.
Putting words in my mouth I never stated != truth, or a good argument on YOUR part. You RAN from that too!
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"Who has independently vetted it?" - by BarbaraHudson (3785311) on Tuesday August 19, 2014 @10:46AM (#47703255)
You tried to say it's malware/spyware too - guess what:
Answer = The BEST in the security antimalware & antispyware business currently, http://www.av-test.org/en/news... per that VERY recent test's results, who also host & RECOMMEND my program for hosts, is who -> http://hosts-file.net/?s=Downl... (Malwarebytes' hpHosts)
* You've done better? No... lol!
APK
P.S.=> You fail: "Eat your words, Forrest" & you told others to stalk/harass me by ac posts as YOU YOURSELF do, unceasingly, for years http://slashdot.org/comments.p...
... apk
BarbaraHudson stalks me by ac posts (quoted) http://slashdot.org/comments.p... & her "so-called 'point'" vs. hosts = b.s. (in a 'journal' - not publicly since she KNOWS they're bullshit):
"We don't need to use a hosts file to block ads (adblock does it better)" - by BarbaraHudson (3785311) on Sunday September 21, 2014 @02:09PM FROM-> http://slashdot.org/comments.p...
To THAT b.s. I point out how NOT BETTER it is, tearing up 4++gb of RAM & flooring CPU too -> https://blog.mozilla.org/nneth...
+
By default (since advertisers KNOW most folks using "Almost ALL Ads Blocked" won't change that) adblock's PAID OFF NOT TO DO ITS JOB FULLY -> http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/...
ClarityRay's also DESTROYING AdBlock but it's NOT ABLE TO DO THAT to custom hosts files.
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* BarbaraHudson's *trying* to tell us that Adblock's vastly inferior abilities + chewing up resources LIKE MAD is "superior" to hosts?? Please... lol!
(Hosts do all of what adblock does, + FAR more - with less!)
APK
P.S.=> Facts above vs. BarbaraHudson's fictions & the FACT BarbaraHudson CANNOT DISPROVE that hosts do more w/ LESS, & far, Far, FAR MORE for added speed, security, reliability, + even anonymity (to an extent) vs. adblock
&
That hosts fix DNS security issues in DNS amplification attacks, DNS being downed, DNS being redirect poisoned etc. - et al as well!
Fact: NO SINGLE SOLUTION does more & w/ less, period/fact, for all those points of mine here BarbaraHudson sockpuppet downmodded & RAN from -> http://slashdot.org/comments.p... like the troll & multiple account using sockpuppeteer he/she is... apk