Xbox one

Oh hey, what's this?
GAMES CONSOLE MAKER Microsoft's Xbox One could track everything you watch on TV via the machine, a patent application has revealed. Entitled "Awards and Achievements Across TV Ecosystem", the patent was filed by the Redmond firm in 2011 but has only just been published.

Interestingly, the patent refers to a system where users are assigned viewing goals which are then assessed using a variety of methods to make the viewing experience more interactive. Interestingly, the patent refers to a system where users are assigned viewing goals which are then assessed using a variety of methods to make the viewing experience more interactive.
In basic terms, Microsoft would tease you with rewards by getting you to watch programming you don't actually want to but feel compelled by the fact you might receive a gift of sorts in return.
source*
Let the collusion theories begin!

Fortunately, I'm sure we could probably overturn this patent based on Oprah's prior art.

--Patrick
*(Yes, I know it's the Inquirer)
 
The problem with that is deciding who gets a cut and how much.
That's not to hard for those services. Generally you get a fixed rate per view/listen, which is why the video players are making their push into original programming. The more people who watch House of Cards the less money Netflix has to pay out to studios (more realistically they pay themselves). It might be trickier with gaming because of installations and what exactly you decide to track, but it's not insurmountable, look at GameTap.
 
I don't think Steam could ever pull an all you eat style thing just based on how most publishers would react. You'd either end up with a multiple tier thing where you'd still have to pay for the big name games or you would just not see them on Steam at all.
 
Probably not yet, but steam is becoming somewhat of a juggernaut. If they can build enough leverage they could pull it off.
 
Steam is already the iTunes of games. The momentum is there, so as long as they aren't legislated out of business somehow, they should manage to hit that summit eventually.

--Patrick
 
You mean people are using Netflix on something, the service that is available on every single piece of technology possible! Shocking. Sell me another console Microsoft so I can watch more Netflix, then charge me to access my Netflix subscription, then take away my rights as a consumer, then spy on me and anyone else who uses it in order to tailor you're god awful advertising to that I pay to have access to. And you know what, while you're at it, make all accessories that work on the 360 inoperable on the One, despite still using USB, everyone who owns an arcade stick or a headset TOTALLY wants to buy them again.

But yeah, you're right on the mark there with the game comments.
 
You mean people are using Netflix on something, the service that is available on every single piece of technology possible! Shocking. Sell me another console Microsoft so I can watch more Netflix, then charge me to access my Netflix subscription, then take away my rights as a consumer, then spy on me and anyone else who uses it in order to tailor you're god awful advertising to that I pay to have access to. And you know what, while you're at it, make all accessories that work on the 360 inoperable on the One, despite still using USB, everyone who owns an arcade stick or a headset TOTALLY wants to buy them again.

But yeah, you're right on the mark there with the game comments.
I'm just wondering if you realize every single internet company you purchase or view something at tracks your purchases and or viewing habits to tailor ads to you. Netflix, youtube, google, steam, etc. They all track your usage for ads and targeted specials. Why is Microsoft getting run over the coals for something every other company is doing when we don't even know if or how they'll do it yet?
 
I'm just wondering if you realize every single internet company you purchase or view something at tracks your purchases and or viewing habits to tailor ads to you.
It's not cool when they do it either.

Why is Microsoft getting run over the coals for something every other company is doing when we don't even know if or how they'll do it yet?
I think you focused on one of the small issues vs the many bigger issues brought up.
 
I'm just wondering if you realize every single internet company you purchase or view something at tracks your purchases and or viewing habits to tailor ads to you. Netflix, youtube, google, steam, etc. They all track your usage for ads and targeted specials. Why is Microsoft getting run over the coals for something every other company is doing when we don't even know if or how they'll do it yet?
Those all don't track what my heart-rate is when I watch certain thing or when I'm smiling or as many other things Microsoft has mentioned it's always on Kinect can do. That shit is gross. It crosses a line and like Gilgamesh posts, it's only a part of the entire disgusting package.

Do people want Microsoft watching their kids this way?
 
It's not cool when they do it either.

I think you focused on one of the small issues vs the many bigger issues brought up.
Right, but I don't hear anyone bitching about them. That's my point.

Those all don't track what my heart-rate is when I watch certain thing or when I'm smiling or as many other things Microsoft has mentioned it's always on Kinect can do. That shit is gross. It crosses a line and like Gilgamesh posts, it's only a part of the entire disgusting package.

Do people want Microsoft watching their kids this way?
I haven't heard anyone say they were going to track that sort of thing. People are assuming a whole lot of things just because it's possible. Think of all the things that can be tracked with your cell phone? Has that stopped you from using one? Where do you think all those ads from google come from? Or facebook?

They have said it's possible, which would be a good thing for fitness games to take advantage of. They could speed up the moves or slow them down to keep the user at the target heart rate. They have never said they will track your facial expressions or heart rate and use it to track what you like and don't like.
 
No, but combine this:

http://bgr.com/2013/05/28/xbox-one-kinect-sensor-rewards/

With:

The new Kinect can see in the dark, pick out human voices in a noisy living room and read your heartrate just by looking at your face.
And you don't think they might use these in tandem, probably while claiming they don't, at least until they are caught doing so?

There is no benefit to us in assuming they'll do the right thing and being quiet about it until we find out exactly how low they're willing to go. If we assume the worst now, be loud and vocal to them about it, let them know exactly what we don't want before all this shit is set in stone, let it shape their decision (even if it's in the smallest way possible) we, as consumers, may end up with a better shake of the stick.

Being non-vocal does people no favours.
 
I'm just wondering if you realize every single internet company you purchase or view something at tracks your purchases and or viewing habits to tailor ads to you. Netflix, youtube, google, steam, etc. They all track your usage for ads and targeted specials. Why is Microsoft getting run over the coals for something every other company is doing when we don't even know if or how they'll do it yet?
Tracking what video I am watching on Netflix is NOT the same as the Kinect camera turning off a movie because I have too many friends in the room, all the while tracking your heart rate to figure out how angry it makes you.

To compare to a more real world example.

When I get groceries, the computer register at the store may compile what I bought and give me a coupon for something else I may like. That is simple product data gathering and frankly I don't have much of a problem with that.

Kinect though, is more like the clerk himself follows you around the store, watching how I pick up the groceries, how angry that chunky woman blocking the lane makes me, writes down how many times I scratch my ass, or how often I travel through the sweets isle. It's more invasive.

I posted before but Microsoft has patents to use the Kinect to shut down movies when too many people are watching them or charge a fee per extra person.. For this tech to work the Kinect system always has to be on in some way, and even though they talk of "privacy" settings, they also talk about how Kinect will ALWAYS be on in some form to allow boot up voice commands. Thus even when the console is off, Kinect will still be on in some form.

How anyone can defend this is beyond me.
 
Amazon filed a patent on tiny airbags in your phone that will deploy when dropped. Currently Amazon has produced zero phones, and no device has such airbags.

And if you want to freak out about grocery store shopping cards consider this, stores sell the information they gather in addition to using it for their own ordering purposes. Theoretically they could sell your information to your insurance providers who would then adjust/raise your rates based on your eating habits.
 
No, I don't. It sounds like some sort of advanced Nielsen box. Most likely something you would have to opt in to, especially since it's rewards based.
You never have to opt in to Microsoft product features... with the exception of paid services. You always, always have to opt out.
 
Amazon filed a patent on tiny airbags in your phone that will deploy when dropped. Currently Amazon has produced zero phones, and no device has such airbags.

And if you want to freak out about grocery store shopping cards consider this, stores sell the information they gather in addition to using it for their own ordering purposes. Theoretically they could sell your information to your insurance providers who would then adjust/raise your rates based on your eating habits.
Verizon also already has a patent to monitor people watching tv with video and sound sensors to tailor ads to what's going on in your house.

All of these patents are just that, patents. Most likely they had a group brainstorm ideas on how this system could tailor advertising and they threw out a bunch of patents so they would have them. The joys of our patent system...

Until I see proof that any of this is going to happen, I'm not going to rage about it.
 
And if you want to freak out about grocery store shopping cards consider this, stores sell the information they gather in addition to using it for their own ordering purposes. Theoretically they could sell your information to your insurance providers who would then adjust/raise your rates based on your eating habits.
The frequent customer rewards programs are all run by pretty much one company, not the store you buy from. If you really want to be freaked out, imagine all the information they have on you. Especially since facebook signed a data sharing deal with them. It's supposedly anonymous, but they have enough data to match people so it doesn't matter.[DOUBLEPOST=1369836419][/DOUBLEPOST]
-Until they do it and it's too late to do anything about it, I will not get upset!-
;)
Of course, you could always not have it in your house. There's enough competition that they'll have to be careful. Especially with low cost android gaming consoles being made.
 
Amazon filed a patent on tiny airbags in your phone that will deploy when dropped. Currently Amazon has produced zero phones, and no device has such airbags.
So basically because they might not use the patent, we should just accept the system and move on? That sounds like a great way to go. SOLD! I am buying six of them now!

And if you want to freak out about grocery store shopping cards consider this, stores sell the information they gather in addition to using it for their own ordering purposes. Theoretically they could sell your information to your insurance providers who would then adjust/raise your rates based on your eating habits.
I already said, I don't really mind people keeping a database of what I buy. Do I dislike it? Yes, but they are not being as invasive and watching me do stuff. I draw the line when something can physically watch me and my child playing in the living room all the while still doing all the database junk, or even using said feature to tell me what I can and can't do in the safety of my own home.

Verizon also already has a patent to monitor people watching tv with video and sound sensors to tailor ads to what's going on in your house.
Which is one of the reasons I refuse to use Verizon.
 
Of course, you could always not have it in your house. There's enough competition that they'll have to be careful. Especially with low cost android gaming consoles being made.
As I said earlier, I have zero interest in consoles, especially this new gen coming. I'm quite happy being part of the PC Master Race.

That said, I also don't care about personal information being shared, and already said that this is such a small part of what I think is wrong with the console. I'm more impressed with how poorly they're handling used games, forcing online check-ins and charging extra fees for everything. Mostly to stop -piracy-. Which it won't.
 
As I said earlier, I have zero interest in consoles, especially this new gen coming. I'm quite happy being part of the PC Master Race.

That said, I also don't care about personal information being shared, and already said that this is such a small part of what I think is wrong with the console. I'm more impressed with how poorly they're handling used games, forcing online check-ins and charging extra fees for everything. Mostly to stop -piracy-. Which it won't.
Well, I was more responding to the others that do have a big problem with being tracked. I just don't get it. I guess we'll see when it comes out. They've said there'll be a privacy option, but we won't know all the details until it comes out.

I probably won't buy the console either. Mainly because I'm not much of a gamer, I play WoW and that's pretty much it. I would actually be interested in it for what it can offer in a media box, as long as an xbox membership isn't required.

As for used games, it's been a long time coming. Game publishers have pretty much killed the used and rental options for PC's, so they're going to go after consoles next.
 
The frequent customer rewards programs are all run by pretty much one company, not the store you buy from. If you really want to be freaked out, imagine all the information they have on you. Especially since facebook signed a data sharing deal with them. It's supposedly anonymous, but they have enough data to match people so it doesn't matter.

It seems there is a world of difference between having spending information or internet activity compiled versus being actively spied upon in the privacy of your own home.

Theres is no way I'm getting one of these monstrosities. Good job Microsoft.
 
I probably won't buy the console either. Mainly because I'm not much of a gamer, I play WoW and that's pretty much it. I would actually be interested in it for what it can offer in a media box, as long as an xbox membership isn't required.
Fat chance on the membership thing.
 
Just to double check, you've all disabled the little cameras at the top of your laptops as well, right? Because they can totally watch you as well.
 
Try sharing that movie, song, or book you downloaded. They'll get there too.
We're not talking about digital downloads, we're talking about physical media.[DOUBLEPOST=1369838358][/DOUBLEPOST]
Just to double check, you've all disabled the little cameras at the top of your laptops as well, right? Because they can totally watch you as well.
Mine doesn't even have drivers.
 
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