Google files patent for smart teddy bear that listens and obeysMay 25, 2015 - 10:43 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Like something out of Toy Story or Ted, lifelike teddies could become a reality if Google has its way, Digital Spy reports. The three-year-old patent only recently came to light, after legal technology firm SmartUp spotted the filling on the database of the US Patents and Trademarks Office. The "doll or toy that resembles a human, an animal, a mythical creature or an inanimate object" would be able to listen to commands, recognise users with a camera and control connected devices. "If the user speaks a command while gazing back at the anthropomorphic device, the anthropomorphic device may access a profile of the user to determine, based on the user's preference encoded in the profile, how to interpret the command," the filing explains. But at a time when privacy is a big concern, do we really want children playing with a teddy fitted with microphones and cameras? According to SmartUp, it's "one of Google's creepiest patents yet". A spokesperson for Google didn't say whether the device would ever be made when asked by BBC News. "We file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees come up with. Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don't. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patent applications." Top stories Yerevan will host the 2024 edition of the World Congress On Information Technology (WCIT). Rustam Badasyan said due to the lack of such regulation, the state budget is deprived of VAT revenues. Krisp’s smart noise suppression tech silences ambient sounds and isolates your voice for calls. Gurgen Khachatryan claimed that the "illegalities have been taking place in 2020." Partner news Most popular in the section | Armenia, Turkey discuss restoration of historic bridge The meeting took place on May 17 in Ashgabat on the sidelines of an international conference of ministers of culture. India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. |