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Microsoft Patent Suggests HoloLens Could Keep Track of Your Small Items (theverge.com)

A new Microsoft patent has been published that describes a system that would let its HoloLens glasses track small items like car keys, ultimately helping users find their lost belongings. What's more is that the system can "monitor the status of objects without any instructions from users, keeping tabs on anything that's important to their lives," writes Adi Robertson via The Verge. From the report: The patent's basic idea is pretty simple. HoloLens has outward-facing cameras that can make a spatial map of a room, and machine vision technology can identify or track specific objects in an image. So if, for example, you put your keys down on a table, HoloLens could hypothetically spot them through the camera and quietly note their position. When you're about to leave the house, it could give you the keys' last known location, even if they've since been covered up by a newspaper or slipped under a couch cushion. But what's really interesting isn't the idea of HoloLens tracking an object. It's HoloLens learning what items matter to you and choosing what to follow, before you ever worry about losing something. To be clear, you could designate objects: one example has a traveler telling HoloLens to track their passport while abroad. In other cases, though, it could check to see how often you interact with an object, or when you move it around, and start tracking anything that hits a certain threshold.

62 comments

  1. Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why do you dorks dislike technology so much? I'm sure you all love the idea of the computer on the Star Track Enterprise responding to voice commands and using complex AI to provide the best experience to people. However, you dislike and complain incessantly about modern technology trying to provide a lot of the same functionality. If you like it on Star Track, there's no reason to dislike the technology in the real world. Of course the AI will need to know some information about you and listen for voice commands, so there's no reason to complain about this. Overall, Star Track is quite worthless, but you should embrace the few redeeming qualities it has.

    And yes, I know, I posted this yesterday. But the article is a dupe, and I'm sure you Star Track idiots would benefit from seeing this dose of reality again.

    1. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Why do you dorks dislike technology so much? I'm sure you all love the idea of the computer on the Star Track Enterprise responding to voice commands and using complex AI to provide the best experience to people. However, you dislike and complain incessantly about modern technology trying to provide a lot of the same functionality. If you like it on Star Track, there's no reason to dislike the technology in the real world. Of course the AI will need to know some information about you and listen for voice commands, so there's no reason to complain about this. Overall, Star Track is quite worthless, but you should embrace the few redeeming qualities it has.

      And yes, I know, I posted this yesterday. But the article is a dupe, and I'm sure you Star Track idiots would benefit from seeing this dose of reality again.

      It is spelled "Star Trek".

      A track is a set of rails that a train rides on.

      A trek is a long arduous journey.

      Keep working on your vocabulary!

    2. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Z80a · · Score: 1

      Give up seiya! you can't attack a golden saint twice with the same attack!

    3. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by SciFurz · · Score: 2

      -no greedy corporations
      -no opressive government
      -no shoddy security on private data

      A bit idealistic, but none of the things we currently deal with in how those technologies are abused.

      --
      Write and/or read. https://scifurz.wordpress.com/
    4. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Fragnet · · Score: 4, Insightful

      I don't want any corporation "keeping track" of anything of mine. It's why I don't use Siri or Cortana and it's why I don't have a sinister Echo sitting in my lounge. It feels like we're sleep-walking into some kind of nannying corporate dystopia. Hopefully I'll be dead before it's gone too far.

    5. Re: Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And a trebek is an old guy who tries to sell me life insurance

    6. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What I hate is how tech companies can't seem to do much except mine Star Trek for ideas. Touchscreens and voice controls are objectively, intrinsically terrible, but because Roddenberry spammed his sets and scripts with them they must be the future.

      If they'd focus more on the holodeck/transporter/replicator/warp drive side of things instead of the trivial details of fake future UI interfaces then I'd be happier with it. 3D printers and those Gatebox relationship-substitutes are almost useless and more than a little sad, but at least they're (feeble) steps in the right directions.

    7. Re: Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I thought he was the one that sold penis mightiers?

    8. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by OneHundredAndTen · · Score: 1

      Star Track? If there is any dork here, that would be you.

    9. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Yaakov2k · · Score: 1

      This is an easy one: In Star Track [sic] there are no problems with network security or unethical corporations that will scoop all your personal information onto a remote server from which it can never be deleted, let their employees snoop around in it, sell it to third parties, and then suffer a data breach where everyone in the Federation (or other real or fictional society) finds out that you misplaced your (hypothetical) dildo, bag of weed, etc.

      The problem isn't the technology, the problem is the shitty companies that control it.

    10. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why do dumb fuckers like you keep feeding the trolls?

    11. Re: Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Maybe in this case it's at least partly because HoloLens has nothing to do with holograms or holography.

    12. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by mikael · · Score: 1

      If the computers on Star Trek were run by Google, then every time someone activated the main view screen, there would be a 10 second advert, followed by smaller adverts running along the bottom. Whenever someone activated a desktop screen, there would be the spinning disc of downloading.

      If they were run by Microsoft, then there would be an "updates available" message appearing every time someone activated a desktop view screen.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
    13. Re:Why do you dorks hate technology so much? by mikael · · Score: 1

      Early Sci-Fi authors worked in the military and academic research, and could see how technology was evolving. The earliest screens in the 1960's used CRT's and light pens to select menus on screens for CAD:

      https://www.linkedin.com/pulse...

      Finger controlled touch-screens became available for infotainment and training systems back in the 1980's. The whole point was that you could update the user interface would having to rewire control panels. All you had to do was update the GUI script files. That was a big improvement over all those dials, meters and levers over those systems from the 1960's and before. Desktop PC innovation in the 1980's was going from CGA to EGA, VGA, SVGA and up to programmable graphics boards (TI TMS340 range). That was getting close to avionics displays where pilots actually preferred the digitally rendered flght instruments rather than the real mechanical systems. VR helmets still consisted of little CRT screens.

      If anything, tech companies were far ahead. I remember seeing Sun workstations in the 1980's that had PostScript displays. GUI Windows could be any shape (circular, oval, concave) along with fonts being any size.

      --
      Vintage computer adverts: http://www.vintageadbrowser.com/computers-and-software-ads
  2. This is awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Now where did I put my Microsoft HoloLens?

    1. Re: This is awesome! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Star Fuk

  3. antisocial and loving it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    I don't lose small items ever since I stopped socializing, because I don't have the constant distraction of blithering idiots competing for my attention. You'd be amazed how much concentration a person can muster by ignoring the shit out of worthless fucking people.

    1. Re: antisocial and loving it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Speaking of ignoring worthless people, you're not worth paying any attention to. Now go back to watching Star Track Voyager, dreaming about those Rombulan Borgs, and eating Cheetos. You may want to consider showering, though, otherwise your neck beard may turn orange from the crumbs getting stuck in it.

    2. Re: antisocial and loving it by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Neck beard, I have one.
      Wearing unwashed clothes from a month ago, yes I am.
      Ate Cheetos today, yes I did.
      Aha! I prefer the sexy Dominion Changeling chicks from Star Track Deep Throat Mine!

      Shows what you know, foolish fool.

  4. Dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Wake me up when it can track dupes.

    1. Re:Dupe by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      Wake me up when it can track dupes.

      I"ll wait till this is posted again tomorrow to comment.

  5. And then the police do a bulk scan for .... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Probably without getting a warrant either.

    So, why would you be stupid enough to pay to put a bugging device in your own home again ?

    Oh, right, same reason you have a cell phone ... got that.

  6. tracks small items like car keys? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Only if it has a camera... say, like the Google Glass does.

    How do you feel about allowing just anyone to know where your car keys are? After all, Microsoft can't seem to prevent any of the thousands of viruses out - so anyone could know.

  7. ops small item is by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    pe.nis

  8. Not sure if want. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    With Microsoft security this is a wet dream for thieves.
    Get into HoloLens' 'object spatial distribution database' and look where money, expensive small electronics and jewellery is stored.
    Otherwise it could mostly work for single people.
    Going to be much harder with others around that either 'helpfully' move your stuff to 'more exposed place where you can find it easier' or kids just dragging it around randomly.

  9. DoucheLens by dalleboy · · Score: 0

    Like with every solution with HoloLens this will make you look like a douche.

    Normal video conferencing: two or more groups of people seeing each other over a remote distance.
    Video conferencing with a partner using HoloLens: Cool 3D for a single individual, but all the others see a douche wearing a HoloLens.
    Video conferencing where all partners use HoloLens: All douches see the other douches wearing their HoloLens.

    1. Re: DoucheLens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You know that the hololense will eventually be about as intrusive looking as a pair of glasses right?

    2. Re:DoucheLens by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

      I see a douche. He's not wearing a HoloLens though...

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
  10. "track" by swell · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The word 'track' appears several times in TFS. Readers here know where that leads.

    We can expect that M$, Google, Apple & Fecebook will soon have maps of our homes, our workplace and our dungeon and all the goodies inside.

    --
    ...omphaloskepsis often...
    1. Re:"track" by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Within 5 years every cell phone will automatically scan every environment you are in.

      --
      Good-bye
  11. Where were the ads and the TLAs by waspleg · · Score: 1

    in Star Trek monitoring and controlling every aspect of their lives? I'm not a Trekkie but the evil that comes with these fucking corporate implementations is palpable.

    Soon you won't be able to opt out because everyone you fucking know will be using it and you'll be collateral damage; just like Facebook/Google/M$/Amazon already are for everything else. Guess who their biggest customers are? (Hint: It ain't you).

    1. Re:Where were the ads and the TLAs by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

      in Star Trek monitoring and controlling every aspect of their lives?

      They didn't have advertisements, but they did have a shadowy agency behind the scenes controlling things. So yes, their surveillance society had a dark heart.

      --
      "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
    2. Re:Where were the ads and the TLAs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      In 2372, Quark hacked into the communications systems aboard Deep Space 9, by using an encryption program to bypass the access protocols, and placed a short visual sequence promoting his bar. This was considered a class 3 offense according to Odo. As part of the same campaign, Quark had also tampered with the replicators aboard the station, such that beverages appeared in mugs advertising the bar, much to Worf's annoyance. Both the video and the mug included a jingle in the form of a simple song, sung by Quark, encouraging potential customers to visit his place. (DS9: "The Quickening")

      They had advertisements.

  12. Will it track duplicate posts.... by WoodstockJeff · · Score: 2

    ... on slashdot across days?

    https://slashdot.org/story/16/...

  13. Good! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Then the new president can keep track of his small hands.

  14. Big Brother to the rescue? Not likely by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Far from being a good idea, I see this as just more of Microsoft's invasion of people's privacy. The disconcerting part is the bit about not requiring user instructions, which means the device must be monitoring every object around you. And of course it will be sending all that data back to Microsoft. So now Microsoft will know all about your porn collection (it already knows all about the porn you have on your computer), as well as all your valuables and other shit you really don't want others to know about. Once the system has been hacked, and we all know it will be, all that information will also be readily available to thieves. No more searching for your stuff, they will already know where it is.

  15. Oops! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Husband picks up wifes hololens by mistake and spots where she left her toys.

    1. Re: Oops! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If she has the same size head as you then she probably isn't hiding them.

  16. Ooer! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Wife picks up husbands hololens by mistake and spots where he left his stash of schoolgirl panties!

  17. Maybe not so novel? by bigjosh · · Score: 1

    OrsonObject
    https://wp.josh.com/2013/07/01/orsonobject-google-for-your-lost-keys/

  18. Ferrets and Small Objects by Feneric · · Score: 1

    I wonder how well this system would work if one has additional agents of chaos (i.e. ferrets, toddlers, etc.) that like to locate small objects left on tables and hide them in unexpected places.

    1. Re: Ferrets and Small Objects by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Fixed place hololense cameras throughout your house. Be your own big brother.

  19. I will note... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That is a post-Roddenberry addition, and I would move that it is non-canon if you go by Roddenberry's original vision (based on TOS/early TNG) rather than the post Roddenberry productions (late TNG/DS9+)

    Having said that, it does sound very Earth Final Conflict-ish.

    Aliens in government perhaps? :P

    captcha was 'proviso' how fitting.

  20. There are still ways to opt out... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    But they involve opting out of societies that don't respect your privacy. Not many people are willing to give up the conveniences of their gilded cages to trek out in search of a new homeland, or to do the work necessary to found one...

  21. Ripe for abuse by law enforcement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Kill it with fire.

  22. Re:That pesky privacy thing by hackwrench · · Score: 1

    I generally believe in sharing all sorts of information. The recommendations are still generally lousy. I also am pretty open about pirating. mainly books. Haven't been arrested, or accosted yet. So where is all this control you privacy believers keep clamoring about?

  23. Welcome to the machine. by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    So is obvious that the future is shaping up to be one where our own brains are hardly used any more, so like all other unused parts of our bodies will begin to shrink/disappear.
    We will be literally lost, even in our own homes, whenever we take off our visors because there will be nothing to tell us what to think and when.
    We will become the perfect unthinking, unquestioning, remote-controlled labour force.

    1. Re:Welcome to the machine. by spire3661 · · Score: 1

      Tron called this 30 years ago.

      Dr. Walter Gibbs: [laughs] "You've got to expect some static. After all, computers are just machines; they can't think."

      Alan Bradley: "Some programs will be thinking soon."

      Dr. Walter Gibbs: "Won't that be grand? Computers and the programs will start thinking and the people will stop."

      Also this gem that is branded onto my heart

      "USER REQUESTS ARE WHAT COMPUTERS ARE FOR!"

      --
      Good-bye
  24. How is this not a dupe? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    How is this not a dupe from yesterday?

  25. Why should they want to track my dick? by profke · · Score: 1

    It's not that special?..

  26. Cocaine in da butt hole by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why use benzocaine when you have an urn of coke on your bedside table?

  27. Ancient "whistle" Key Finder by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    Way, way, back in the mid 1980's they came out with a tiny device you could put on your key ring. If you could not find the keys, all you had to do is whistle, and it would beep back 3 times. You did this until you "cornered" the keys. To me, I think it was better/cheaper technology.

  28. Small items by fluffernutter · · Score: 1

    "Microsoft has determined that you would enjoy penis enlargement services. We invite you to review informationlets we send through your browser, smart TV, and all facial recognition billboards. Microsoft is fully committed to making your life better."

    --
    Laws are rules for the court, but merely a bottom bar to hit for life. Think beyond laws in your actions always.
  29. How often do you Lose Things? by richardkettle4 · · Score: 1

    I cannot even recall the last time I lost anything. Why would I use this? May be of use to people with Alzheimer's?

  30. Sod that by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

    It's bad enough the TSA looking in my pants, but now Microsoft want to do it.

    Huh Huh. Huh huh. Micro soft. Heh heh.

    --
    Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
  31. Keeping track of my HoloLens by Macdude · · Score: 1

    Once I've come to rely on my HoloLens to find things for me, how am I supposed to find my HoloLens?

    --
    "Grab them by the pussy" -- President of the United States of America
  32. "A new Microsoft patent has been published that describes a system that would let its HoloLens glasses track small items like car keys, ultimately helping users find their lost belongings."

    This may be useful for absent-minded folks or people with Alzheimer's, but not really for me. For example, for the last 40 years my car keys are in one of three places: in my pocket, on the counter in that little bowl, or in the car's ignition switch. Even though I'm old and decrepit I just don't misplace a lot of stuff. I really can't recall the last time I couldn't find my car keys. Maybe Microsoft could keep track of that. Cortana: "You last misplaced your keys on December 5th, 1987. They were on the coffee table underneath the Barely Legal Perky Hooters magazine."

    But for those who are congenitally incapable of remembering where stuff is, please allow Microsoft to tell you where your keys, TV remote, wallet, yogurt, slippers, and current wife happen to be.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...
  33. APPLICATION, not PATENT by SoftwareArtist · · Score: 1

    This is just a patent application. That doesn't mean it's been granted, or will be granted. And I'm not a lawyer, but it doesn't sound like this comes anywhere close to meeting the supreme court's "not an abstract idea" standard. This is totally something a human could do, if you just hired a human to follow you around and write down where you left things. That means it's not patentable.

    --
    "I'm too busy to research this and form an educated opinion, but I do have time to tell everyone my uninformed opinion."
    1. Re:APPLICATION, not PATENT by ThosLives · · Score: 1

      I'm pessimistic and think, sadly, that you have too much faith in the patent office.

      The correct response to this doesn't even have anything to do with "an abstract idea" - it should be "You have a device that is designed to take pictures and can identify objects in those photos, and that device has location information and storage. Using that device to keep track of the locations of objects is obvious - not patentable.

      The only thing patentable would be if they had some novel way of storing location information perhaps, or some novel method of object recognition. The "idea" "keep track of objects' locations with a hololens" should not be patentable at all.

      --
      "There are a dozen opinions on a matter until you know the truth. Then there is only one." - CS Lewis (paraprhase)
  34. ...unless they're under/behind/in something by HalAtWork · · Score: 1

    So basically only if they're already in the line of sight of that thing, as well as in the field of view which is smaller than what your eyes normally see. Just get a TrackR or something, and then you don't have to do all that searching. And it's probably cheaper than a HoloLens.

  35. It's "almost" the future I wanted. by Shemmie · · Score: 1

    If it was simply "My user has put keys down at X,Y,Z. Store this data somewhere this side of their router", I'd love it.

    Whereas I kinda suspect it's going to be "My user has put keys down at X, Y, Z. They appear to be keys for a Ford Mondeo. Possibly the 2014 model. Store this data on the Microsoft servers for data mining. Provide access to every damn Government agency around the world."