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posted by martyb on Sunday May 24 2015, @03:21AM   Printer-friendly
from the teddy-ruxpin-on-steroids dept.

Time Magazine reports that Google has designed and patented an "anthropomorphic device" that could take the form of a "doll or toy" and interact both with people as well as tech gadgets echoing the "super toy" teddy bear featured in Stephen Spielberg's 2001 movie AI. This could be one of Google's creepiest patents yet -- especially if movies like "Chuckie" still give you nightmares.

The patent filing diagrams a stuffed teddy bear and a bunny rabbit outfitted with microphones, speakers, cameras and motors as well as a wireless connection to the internet. If it senses you're looking at it, the fuzzy toy will rotate its head and look back at you. Once it receives and recognizes a voice command prompt, you can then tell it to control media devices in your home (e.g. turn on your music or TV). According to the patent filing:

To express interest, an anthropomorphic device may open its eyes, lift its head, and/or focus its gaze on the user or object of its interest. To express curiosity, an anthropomorphic device may tilt its head, furrow its brow, and/or scratch its head with an arm. To express boredom, an anthropomorphic device may defocus its gaze, direct its gaze in a downward fashion, tap its foot, and/or close its eyes. To express surprise, an anthropomorphic device may make a sudden movement, sit or stand up straight, and/or dilate its pupils.

The patent adds that making the device look "cute" should encourage even the youngest members of a family to interact with it. But Mikhail Avady, from SmartUp, said he thought it belonged in "a horror film", and the campaign group Big Brother Watch has also expressed dismay. "When those devices are aimed specifically at children, then for many this will step over the creepy line," says Avady. "Children should be able to play in private and shouldn't have to fear this sort of passive invasion of their privacy."

 
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  • (Score: 2) by darkfeline on Monday May 25 2015, @06:13PM

    by darkfeline (1030) on Monday May 25 2015, @06:13PM (#187672) Homepage

    If you cut out the wireless transmitter, it would be a pretty cool toy. Even moreso if it had an open API/design to allow people to program it with the best personality for their kids. Kid cries a lot? Program it to crawl over to comfort him. Needs more exercise? Program it to play tag or keep-away.

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