New Apple iPhone Patent Applications Surface: Object and Facial Recognition, Messaging, Voice Modulation

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/09/new-apple-iphone-patent-applications-surface-object-and-facial-recognition-messaging-voice-modulation/)

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a several dozen Apple patent applications this morning, and Unwired View highlights (http://www.unwiredview.com/2009/07/09/next-in-your-iphone-os-live-object-identification-face-recognition-text-filtering-smarter-messaging-voice-alteration/) one group of them primarily related to iPhone software. The patents cover object and facial recognition, messaging, and voice modulation.

Object Recognition: One patent application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090175499%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090175499&RS=DN/20090175499), filed on June 17th, 2008, describes methods by which a mobile device user could detect an object via camera, RFID sensor or other means and have their device automatically identify and provide additional information on the object. In Apple's background information on the patent, an example of an art museum is used, describing how a user might take a photo of a piece of art and wish to have it automatically identified and additional information on it provided, or engage in an audio tour or podcast and wish to access additional content beyond that provided in the audio files.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/07/09/101713-object_recognition_300.png

Object recognition
Facial Detection: Another patent application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090175509%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090175509&RS=DN/20090175509), filed on March 8th, 2008, addresses the use of facial detection to allow a device to determine whether a user is passively interacting with the device. As an example, Apple describes how a user watching a video may have to periodically interact with a device in order to prevent a screen saver from activating. Apple's invention utilizes automatic facial detection via a camera on the device to determine that a user is present. The method may also be used to grant or deny users access to restricted applications or other data.

Message Filtering: Conceived as an extension of Parental Controls, this application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090177750%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090177750&RS=DN/20090177750), filed January 3rd, 2008, covers the ability for users to filter incoming or outgoing text-based messages based on their content. User-defined criteria could allow messages containing objectionable material to be edited to remove the content or be blocked entirely. Additionally, the technology could be used to require certain content to be present in messages. For example, a parent might require that messages contain proper spelling and grammar, or certain vocabulary words, or a certain number of words in a foreign language over a set period of time in order to aid a student in his or her studies.

Managing Multiple-Recipient Messages: In a patent application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090176517%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090176517&RS=DN/20090176517) filed January 6th, 2008, Apple describes a method for managing messages with multiple recipients. The invention covers the ability for an application monitor whether the message has been delivered to all recipients, and if not, provide a simple interface for resending at a later time to those who have not received the message.

Unread Message Alerts: An application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090177617%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090177617&RS=DN/20090177617) filed January 3rd, 2008 covers the ability for a device to automatically provide unread message alerts when a user is about to contact another party. For example, as a user begins to compose an e-mail to another person, the device may alert the user to unread messages from the second party that they may wish to view before sending their e-mail. The alert criteria may simply include the message recipient's name, but could also be expanded to specify content on the same subject as the intended message.


http://images.macrumors.com/article/2009/07/09/101713-unread_status_500.png

Unread message alerts
Voice Modulation: In a final patent application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090177300%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090177300&RS=DN/20090177300) filed April 2nd, 2008, Apple describes methods for modulating voice audio output to simulate additional voices. Apple's examples describe a mother who could have an audiobook read in her voice to her child or a student who wishes to alter a section of a podcast lecture for emphasis.

Article Link: New Apple iPhone Patent Applications Surface: Object and Facial Recognition, Messaging, Voice Modulation (http://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/09/new-apple-iphone-patent-applications-surface-object-and-facial-recognition-messaging-voice-modulation/)

[TheShinyMac]

Cool wonder how many years before we see it

[NinjaHERO]

Closer and closer we get to my AI interface. Come on future, hurry up already.

[Chintan100]

Pre loaded apps and songs will be great! :)

[mattwolfmatt]

Facial recognition . . . not what I was expecting. It watches me while I'm watching it? And then sends my face and location to the government, right?!?!

[iPhoneNYC]

Cool. The future today. It looks like Apple want to put RFID tags on every object in the world. iPhone users will be the Ones with "The Knowledge."

[chukronos]

I wonder how many of these we will see in the next gen iPhone.

[pounce]

the snaptell app does some of this already, and it works pretty well. you can take a picture of a cd, magazine, product, etc. and get quite a bit of additional information about it.

[ULFoaf]

When someone actually makes this work, they will have to pay Apple or be sued. This is kind of annoying ... it doesn't encourage people to try to make real working systems, when this stuff has already been patented by someone who does NOT have a working system. This is not unique to computers/electronics either. My company fights this all the time. Time for patent law reform, IMHO.

[lukin]

Quit focusing on features and focus on the battery. That will buy you more and happier customers than 4,000 minute features that are rarely used.

Give me a damn battery that lasts longer than a day with use!

[MadDog31]

So the object recognition is like the SnapTell app I'm assuming?

All this stuff sounds cool though, especially the facial recognition. Man that would be nice. How cool would it be where if someone is looking at your iPhone, when a text comes in it checks the face first before displaying the message badge on the screen?

Just throwing an idea out there, but I'm sure the forum geniuses will smash it...haha

[Warbrain]

How soon until someone brings up that the patent proves the next iPhone will have a front-facing camera?

[EnigMoiD]

How soon until someone brings up that the patent proves the next iPhone will have a front-facing camera?

I think the idea of facial recognition to see whether a user is present or not probably involves a front-facing camera, as no one watches a video on the back of their phone. ;)

[kdarling]

Always remember:

Few patents are base patents for a broad topic. Most patents are for a very particular method of doing something, and can usually be gotten around easily.

For example, Apple's patent on a certain way of recognizing directional scrolling. (The one that fanboys thought was about multi-touch.) It hasn't stopped anyone else from having the same user action, because they just use different algorithms.

Likewise, there are plenty of examples of object recognition where the user is given related information. So no one can get a broad patent on doing that.

In this case, Apple's application specifies that the device uses "an RFID reader;a camera; andan IR image capture device", and has to be put into the correct recognition mode (e.g. museum, restaurant, etc).

The point is: no one's going to have to pay Apple anything. The more important takeaway information is what kind of neat things we'll be able to do as users.

[JayLenochiniMac]

Object recognition
Facial Detection: Another patent application (http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220090175509%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20090175509&RS=DN/20090175509), filed on March 8th, 2008, addresses the use of facial detection to allow a device to determine whether a user is passively interacting with the device. As an example, Apple describes how a user watching a video may have to periodically interact with a device in order to prevent a screen saver from activating. Apple's invention utilizes automatic facial detection via a camera on the device to determine that a user is present. The method may also be used to grant or deny users access to restricted applications or other data.


I suggested something like this for getting your texts on the computer rather than your iPhone (which you have to take out of your pocket if you're at the computer):

"I can imagine some technology to detect when you're at the computer, during which time texts will appear on the computer but as soon as you walk away (or look away) they'll arrive on the phone. This technology already exists in high-end Lexus to detect drivers dozing off or not looking right before a crash to slow down the car. And, of course, it can always been switched off for those who don't wish to use it."

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=676015&page=2

[talkingfuture]

Some cool stuff there. I like the object recognition idea. I think that the iPhone is going to do some amazing things in the next few years to help out in everyday life.

[cmpalmer]

Software patents generally suck (I know - I have one) because they are usually either too broad, usually filed by companies that want to sue for licensing for related ideas) or too narrow (perfectly applicable, but easy to circumvent).

If I was a patent office reviewer, I would strike most of these down based on prior art.

Google, Microsoft, and several research projects have done the object recognition. This does, however, explain why Apple has squashed the ability for app store developers to directly access the video stream - if you could do true AR on the iPhone, there would be a dozen apps that would do what this patent covers out before the patent could be approved.

Facial attention recognition is nothing new. It sounds like the only novel claim is pausing a movie when you aren't watching it.

The unread message alerts is very similar to what GMail does already ("You have 2 unread messages in this thread" when you are composing a reply).

The two messaging improvements probably novel, but narrow (unless their lawyers get lucky and manage to encompass all filtering of IM/SM content).

The voice modulation thing has been done to some extent already. If I'm reading it right, it's like reading bold, italicized, or highlighted sections of rich text in an emphasized (or different) voice. I've seen markup systems for text-to-speech that do the same thing.

[esquire360]

LOL most galleys are not stoked about photograph I believe... defiantly no flash photography.

[Warbrain]

I think the idea of facial recognition to see whether a user is present or not probably involves a front-facing camera, as no one watches a video on the back of their phone. ;)


But anyone with common sense knows that you don't always see patents come to market.

[JayMan8081]

This could be some cool technology. Of course because a patent was applied for doesn't mean it's going to be used or that it's ready at the moment. Apple is constantly churning out ideas, I don't know that I'll ever be surprised by what they think of next.

[phelix_da_kat]

Profiles..
I have no 3G or WiFi reception at my office, so unless I switch these off, my battery is near empty by the time I get home.

So i can with a few gestures select an "office" mode and everything off apart from the phone and Edge.

[QCassidy352]

the facial detection one sounds awesome as a security measure. would have to be very accurate though.

[ivladster]

Such technologies need 4G network and front facing camera, i think that's in 2-3 years. The world is not there yet with the network speeds.

[i.mac]

Facial recognition . . . not what I was expecting. It watches me while I'm watching it? And then sends my face and location to the government, right?!?!

disable the application, and if this is not enough, put a tape over the camera, if this is not enough still, then buy a pre...?

[mikeinternet]

Facial Detection!

I once tried to get a gullible friend to believe you can play a movie in itunes and it will pick up from where you fell asleep the night before. This is totally that!

[MadDog31]

Profiles..
I have no 3G or WiFi reception at my office, so unless I switch these off, my battery is near empty by the time I get home.

So i can with a few gestures select an "office" mode and everything off apart from the phone and Edge.

Great idea! I'll +1 this one. There are several other instances where this would come in handy for me.

[eviltobz]

For example, a parent might require that messages contain proper spelling and grammar
as a proud grammar and spelling nazi i would love that :)

(and yes i know that proper capitalisation is an important part of correct grammar)

[DELLsFan]

Oh look ... more iPhone love. :rolleyes: Has Apple filed any NON-iPhone patents recently? Nice stuff coming, but man - I'm hungering for more than this ... :cool:

[twoodcc]

cool. looking forward to seeing some of this

[jknight8907]

Facial recognition . . . not what I was expecting. It watches me while I'm watching it? And then sends my face and location to the government, right?!?!

Since they don't already have your photo from drivers licenses, passports, etc etc etc.... :rolleyes: I've got a spare roll of tinfoil if you'd like a hat.:p

[MizzouCowboy]

the snaptell app does some of this already, and it works pretty well. you can take a picture of a cd, magazine, product, etc. and get quite a bit of additional information about it.


Barnes and Noble's app does it with books too. Take a picture of a book and Barnes and Noble will give you information on it and let you know if they have it in stock and at what store. It's freaking cool.

[goughbradley]

as a proud grammar and spelling nazi i would love that :)

(and yes i know that proper capitalisation is an important part of correct grammar)

I wouldn't advertise. ;)

[MrCrowbar]

That RFID stuff could be interesting and make my life a bit easier. I like going to an electronics store to look at some products I might be interested in. Once I decided for a model on display, I look it up on a search engine that gives me the cheapest price and buy it there. I tried doing that with my iPhone but it was too painfully slow to be enjoyable and I think the clerks will remember you if you search for the thing in front of you on amazon or something. :-)

Lots of items in stores already have RFID tags to make keeping inventory much easier. I'd love to just stand between some boxes in the store and having my iPhone display the cheapest online prices of those products.

It's kinda cruel towards the store people but if I can find the same thing for not even half the price and a better return policy, I don't care. I especially hate it when you return a defective item at a store and they only give you store credit instead of an actual refund.

Back to the topic: I thought of using the iSight and face recognition for de-activating the screen saver a few years back. However, if your screen saver only activates when no one is in the line of sight, no one would ever see the pretty screen saver. Also, face recognition and general video stuff uses up quite some CPU cycles so I doubt it would save power. Eye tracking would be way cooler actually. Advertisers could make the ads pop up right where your eyes are looking at that very moment. :rolleyes:

[IBradMac]

I'm still waiting for the "retinal scan" feature...you know, so no one else can access your phone. :p

[knewsom]

...Eye tracking would be way cooler actually. Advertisers could make the ads pop up right where your eyes are looking at that very moment. :rolleyes:

SSHHHHH! Dood, what are you THINKING!? Don't give them any more ideas!


The voice-modulation thing could open the door to some pretty bad stuff though. Imagine being able to make your voice sound like anyone's. Now imagine you're a teenager. Yikes.

[xIGmanIx]

why does a patent request for the iPhone require page 1 news? I think this contributes to the mass speculation surrounding apple because unless you actually have real visibility into that company and their efforts, the rest is just a bunch of people on forums guessing what the heck is going on. Enough iPhone news already!

[iAlexG]

They sound good for the next-gen iphone

[spritelyjim]

why does a patent request for the iPhone require page 1 news? I think this contributes to the mass speculation surrounding apple because unless you actually have real visibility into that company and their efforts, the rest is just a bunch of people on forums guessing what the heck is going on.

macrumors.com

[str1f3]

macrumors.com

The problem is that a ridiculous iPhone patent that we will never see makes Page 1 but the iPhone being limited on upstream speeds because of GSM does not.

[uberamd]

I saw an Asus laptop at Worst Buy that had a login system for Vista via facial recognition. Position your face in front of the laptop, it recognizes your face, and logs you in. Looked pretty cool to be honest, however at the same time very pointless.

[CylonGlitch]

I don't know what is wrong with me but I kept reading it as fecal recognition... not something I would want!

"Looks like you could use some more bran in your diet."
"Mmmmm Corn."

[iphones4evry1]

Facial recognition technology???
Oh great, now the government can scan millions of faces and track everyone by hacking into their GPS. Just brilliant. I can't wait to see how the American Civil Liberties Union responds to this one. What's next, full body scans? "The government has detected that you need to lose weight. Your debit card will no longer be able to purchase more than $5 worth of food each day...also, you were short by $2.35 on last years income taxes. We know this is your friend's cell phone, but we recognized your face." :eek: :eek: :eek:

[tbealmear]

Such technologies need 4G network and front facing camera, i think that's in 2-3 years. The world is not there yet with the network speeds.

Make that at least 4-5 years for the US market. We are so far behind in telecommunications technology it isn't even funny.

[MrCrowbar]

I saw an Asus laptop at Worst Buy that had a login system for Vista via facial recognition. Position your face in front of the laptop, it recognizes your face, and logs you in. Looked pretty cool to be honest, however at the same time very pointless.

Agreed. Especially with photos readily available from all these social networking sites.

[ipoppy]

Such technologies need 4G network and front facing camera, i think that's in 2-3 years. The world is not there yet with the network speeds.

Wrong. The AT&T is not. The technology is in use since many years at least here in UK not mention Asia.
I just don't understand why iPhone is not with video iChat implemented yet. And so many people waiting for it.

[MrCrowbar]

Wrong. The AT&T is not. The technology is in use since many years at least here in UK not mention Asia.
I just don't understand why iPhone is not with video iChat implemented yet. And so many people waiting for it.

Dropped video calls are probably way more annoying that dropped phone calls. Don't underestimate the AT&T network in places like New York.

iChat has kinda failed because the video feature only works with other iChat users and usually does not work if you're using a router (which most people do) because it's very dumb at networking. It's however fantastic within local networks, where the iSight camera can really shine. Impress your friends with a 4-people conference on an HDTV. (I'm still looking for a compatible USB webcam by the way, PM me if you know one besides the old iSights).

The problem about mobile video calls is that you need a headset if you don't wanna annoy the people around you. The iPhone's speaker is just not loud enough to be used as a phone speaker, but luckily, the typical user got some earbuds around. Video calling, especially in the US, would probably cause more traffic accidents than SMS.

I often opt not to activate video when using Skype because I don't look pretty at that moment or haven't cleaned up the room. The latter can be helped by those video effects that replace the background with something else, but are very sensitive to lighting changes.

AT&T can barely handle normal voice calls, so I would expect the video calls to be very low quality and very high latency, think early 90's era webcam chat. It would work very well in Japan and a few western Europe countries, but the US are Apple's primary market.

Oh, there's one more reason against video chat, even over WIFI: battery life and heat. It's already bad as it is, but when it has to do heavy video encoding and decoding simultaneously, the battery will empty in no time and the device get pretty warm.

[Zonz]

Like I said before...

http://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_maes_demos_the_sixth_sense.html

This is even more evidence to how a mini projector could be utilized. In combination with object detection and facial recognition, a projector will allow us not to just utilize the iphone's touch screen, but the objects themselves as a canvas and interactive device to obtain information.

[JGowan]

Quit focusing on features and focus on the battery. That will buy you more and happier customers than 4,000 minute features that are rarely used.

Give me a damn battery that lasts longer than a day with use!Can't they do both?

Besides ... they did work on the battery -- 12 hours of talk time on 2G sounds great to me! Who talks on the 3G network? Why would you? Only switch to 3G when you need the net, dude and you've got tons of talk time!

From Apple's site…

Power and battery
Talk time:
Up to 12 hours on 2G
Up to 5 hours on 3G
Standby time: Up to 300 hours

Internet use:
Up to 5 hours on 3G
Up to 9 hours on Wi-Fi
Video playback: Up to 10 hours
Audio playback: Up to 30 hours

I think is plenty.

[applecultvictim]

Who on this GOD's SWEET EARTH votes negative in this story that is nothing but very intelligent patents exploring some wonderful options and uses for the iphone, even if you don't think they are worth their salt they are just patents why vote negative....:confused::eek::rolleyes:

To the extent that 1/3 voted negative.

To this 1/3, you people have some issues to resolves.

Seriously. Heck, pm me your name and I ll send you a ten day ticket to the bahamas for crying out loud, you can bill it on me. So much I can't stand this absolutely unwarranted negativity....

[sinsin07]

Cool. The future today. It looks like Apple want to put RFID tags on every object in the world. iPhone users will be the Ones with "The Knowledge."

Iphone users will be the ones absored into Apples New World order. The Iphone will inject RFID tags into every iphone user worldwide. You have been warned:)

[applecultvictim]

Facial recognition technology???
Oh great, now the government can scan millions of faces and track everyone by hacking into their GPS. Just brilliant. I can't wait to see how the American Civil Liberties Union responds to this one. What's next, full body scans? "The government has detected that you need to lose weight. Your debit card will no longer be able to purchase more than $5 worth of food each day...also, you were short by $2.35 on last years income taxes. We know this is your friend's cell phone, but we recognized your face." :eek: :eek: :eek:

I agree with your sentiments, but you are naive, they already got you pegged from date of birth, from buying your contact and a millions other things you wouldn't image, the echelon isn't waiting for effing apple to come up with face recognition just to to tap you, it's been doing a very good job at it since back when they did it with paperwork and sticking cards into rooms of computers, they never missed anyone they didn't want to go missing....


The rest is for the naive.

[hwmillerster]

Here's a suggested use for facial recognition: when you turn on your Mac, the webcam automatically detects your face and logs you in. This would take the place of logging on using a password or fingerprint recognition. Different members of the family could be recognized without assigning everyone a different password. It could also take a picture of people who aren't recognized and are trying to gain access to the system. :cool:

[mattwolfmatt]

Facial recognition . . . not what I was expecting. It watches me while I'm watching it? And then sends my face and location to the government, right?!?!

Since they don't already have your photo from drivers licenses, passports, etc etc etc.... :rolleyes: I've got a spare roll of tinfoil if you'd like a hat.:p

Proving once again that sarcasm doesn't come through on forums. I'm not crazy!! Honest!

[spritelyjim]

Proving once again that sarcasm doesn't come through on forums. I'm not crazy!! Honest!

I'm not sure the government would care very much to see all the photos of people using their iPhones. Unless they wanted to capitalize on www.iphonescanseeupyournose.com.

[EnigMoiD]

But anyone with common sense knows that you don't always see patents come to market.

Then no patent can truly predict a front-facing camera, can it?

But you're right. Apple certainly didn't bring motion-detecting menus to 3.0 (or at least not so far). It would be cool to see any of their patents, though. This and a haptic iPhone? Awesome!

[brockm]

"Unread Message Alerts: An application filed January 3rd, 2008 covers the ability for a device to automatically provide unread message alerts when a user is about to contact another party."


You've got to be kidding me. In my opinion, things like this are what bring the whole patent system into disrepute.

The idea that a piece of software will notify you of any pending unread messages to a recipient when you start to send them a new message, is a patent-able idea is--for lack of a better phrase--patently absurd.

Basically you're talking about patenting code like this:

if (inbox.getAllUnreadMessagesBy(recipent).size() > 0) {
displayUnreadMessages(inbox.getAllUnreadMessagesBy(recipent));
}

... which is over-simplified pseudo-code. But as a developer, I must say, that while it's a cool idea... it's also a ridiculously "evolutionary" not "revolutionary" idea, which is contrary to what the patent system was designed for.

If Apple is granted this patent, I'm going to spend a few days writing a simple mail client with the express purpose of infringing on this patent out of spite, if for no other reason than I find it horribly offensive.

If this is the standard by which patents can be granted--as a developer--I should go on a binge of patenting absolutely every stupid unique idea that I can possibly come up with. Every other developer can too, and we'll end up not being able to develop pretty much any software anymore because the whole bloody industry with be so encumbered with a patent on every possible software idea that we'll all inevitably trip over each others patents and we can all spend our time suing each other instead of developing software.

If the patent system was this badly abused in the 1960's and 1970's during the rise of computing, we never would have come as far as we did today. Somebody could have patented the idea of a code compiler, and then we'd have no C programming language, because that would violate that patent. Everyone else would be stuck writing machine code or paying a royalty for the right to use the idea of a compiler.

Or someone could have patented the idea of transmitting digital messages over a network of computers, and then the whole internet would have been encumbered by a cluster**** of royalties.

This type of crap needs to end.

[GregA]

... they did work on the battery -- 12 hours of talk time on 2G sounds great to me! Who talks on the 3G network? Why would you? Only switch to 3G when you need the net, dude and you've got tons of talk time!

I'd find it very useful if the phone could recognise when it was on the office wifi, and automatically switch to 2G. Longer battery, but more importantly the 3G reception is dodgy and I miss calls or they drop out.

However, this would disable push notifications, which use 3G.

Profiles..
I have no 3G or WiFi reception at my office, so unless I switch these off, my battery is near empty by the time I get home.

So i can with a few gestures select an "office" mode and everything off apart from the phone and Edge.

Selecting an "office" mode in your situation would be useful. Would it work if it scanned local bluetooth devices and found something to tell it it was in the office?

[GregA]

Who on this GOD's SWEET EARTH votes negative in this story that is nothing but very intelligent patents exploring some wonderful options and uses for the iphone, even if you don't think they are worth their salt they are just patents why vote negative....:confused::eek::rolleyes:

To the extent that 1/3 voted negative.

I don't vote positive or negative... I'm not sure whether voting is supposed to mean "I believe Apple will do what is described here" vs "I LIKE this, hope it's true"

I often find myself thinking something would be very good, but not believing it'll happen. And sometimes having no doubt apple will bring something out but not caring in the slightest.

[apsterling]

Facial recognition technology???
Oh great, now the government can scan millions of faces and track everyone by hacking into their GPS. Just brilliant. I can't wait to see how the American Civil Liberties Union responds to this one. What's next, full body scans? "The government has detected that you need to lose weight. Your debit card will no longer be able to purchase more than $5 worth of food each day...also, you were short by $2.35 on last years income taxes. We know this is your friend's cell phone, but we recognized your face." :eek: :eek: :eek:

... I see you're wearing a tin foil hat.