In Soviet Russia (and now everywhere else), television watches YOU!
This is a rather scary patent filed by Verizon. It's entitled "METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR PRESENTING AN ADVERTISEMENT ASSOCIATED WITH AN AMBIENT ACTION OF A USER". Okay, so what's an "ambient action"? Well, according to the patent, it could include "eating, exercising, laughing, reading, sleeping, talking, singing, humming, cleaning, playing a musical instrument, performing any other suitable action, and/or engaging in any other physical activity", as well as interacting with another viewer in such ways as "talking to, cuddling with, fighting with, wrestling with, playing a game with, competing with, and/or otherwise interacting with the other user". According to the patent, the set-top device will detect your "ambient action" and then play corresponding commercials during the programming breaks.
Anyone else have a minor problem with this? Or a not-so-minor problem?
Anyone else have a minor problem with this? Or a not-so-minor problem?