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GOOGLE’S HAS PUBLISHED a patent that would allow toys to listen to what you’re saying so it can control other connected devices.
The patent, which was filed in February 2012 but published recently, describes how such toys can be alert to physical or verbal cues and use them to control other connected devices.
The abstract for the patent reads as follows:
An anthropomorphic device, perhaps in the form factor of a doll or toy, may be configured to control one or more media devices. Upon reception or a detection of a social cue, such as movement and/or a spoken word or phrase, the anthropomorphic device may aim its gaze at the source of the social cue.
In response to receiving a voice command, the anthropomorphic device may interpret the voice command and map it to a media device command. Then, the anthropomorphic device may transmit the media device command to a media device, instructing the media device to change state.
From the diagrams included, these toys would be fitted with speakers, microphones and cameras which would allow them to analyse and respond to both physical and verbal cues.
A spokesperson for Google told the BBC that it files patent applications on a variety of ideas and that “prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patent applications.”
Such toys and devices have already been criticised for their potential to store vasts amounts of private information.
Toys like ‘Hello Barbie’ use speech recognition technology to learn about children’s likes, dislikes and ambitions. Privacy campaigners criticised the toys saying they could be exploited and raised concerns about children potentially sharing private details with companies through conversations.
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Didn’t these people learn anything from the hard hitting documentary Child’s Play?
Or Terminator.
When will they have robot sex dolls that talk?
I would’ve thought the main advantage a robot would have over a woman would be that it doesn’t talk.
I thought one if the main advantages of a sex toy was supposed to be its inability to talk.It would be quite a blow to the ego having a sex toy turn you down.
Or worse still, laugh at your efforts or chastise you for not lasting long enough. I heard some lads suffer from that problem…
I tip my hat to you men, I clearly didn’t think this through.
In that case you just tell it it’s going to be replaced with the 2016 model , see the attitude change then the cheeky feckin android bast.ad.
Or to buy the L/XL version to make you look good and then for it to respond with “please insert” when it’s already in
Social media and smart phones have already destroyed meaningful social interaction. Robot toys like such could completely eradicate emotional interaction on human level.
>>>”unslaved films” YouTube channel
That’s so hypocritical of you Fatima, what device are you on now to send us this message?
I didnt exclude myself from it. Its affecting everyone. How is that hypocritical?
SIMPSONS DID IT! Funzo- give me a hug!!
Welcome to the terminator era, well the beginning of it. Just like the movies #TechnoCrap #thePostHumanWorld # beginning of the end
Just shove your phone up humpty’s Dumpty arse and it’ll be the same thing
have your say