Apple Expresses Interest in 'Kinect-Like' Control of Appliances and Vehicles

[baryon]

• Projected virtual toaster and 3D fridge.
• Download your favorite food from the iFood Store.
• Stream your virtual spaghetti to your microwave, anywhere, anytime.
• Share your food on Foodbook with your friends. See what they are eating.
• No time to finish your lunch? Save your meal for later, and it restores exactly as you left it.

 

[sciwizam]

MS didn't invent kinect, a small israeli company that deals with the IDF did. there was even a story a few weeks ago how they pitched it to Apple first but didn't want to deal with them due to apple's NDA demands so they took it to MS

Primesense's stuff gives the raw image and depth data, you need MS's software on the Xbox to interpret the data to differentiate the flesh and blood you from the lifeless couch behind you and the dog that moves in front on you.

 

[inlovewithi]

In just about every case, credit for 'inventing' anything goes to the one who gets it out into the world as a real thing.
'Invention' is ALWAYS the result of standing on the shoulders of those who are standing on other shoulders.
This "so and so thought this up YEARS before that" stuff is silly.
Creativity lies in actually accomplishing things, not just dreaming them up.

Nah, I just think in this case it has to do with the fact that Steve has made really good friends with people who run the media. A bunch of companies introduce a slate, not one peep from the media, a few weeks later apple introduces the iPad it's breaking news everywhere, including in the Spanish channels. Similar when the iPod had I think a firmware update to allow video on a horrible 1 inch screen, it was breaking new on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, with the headlines of the biggest revolution since color television. Meanwhile for years I had wanted these portable video players with these beautiful screen. Go figure.

 

[a.gomez]

kinect selling 2.5 million units in 25 days and MIT already hacking the thing

http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/25/kinect-hack-lets-you-control-a-web-browser-using-only-the-force/

probably already doing this at MIT dorm rooms with a hot plate and a XBOX 360

 

[cowbellallen]

So uh...... am I not going to get a credit for this submission?

Thanks.

 

[Liquorpuki]

Nah, I just think in this case it has to do with the fact that Steve has made really good friends with people who run the media. A bunch of companies introduce a slate, not one peep from the media, a few weeks later apple introduces the iPad it's breaking news everywhere, including in the Spanish channels. Similar when the iPod had I think a firmware update to allow video on a horrible 1 inch screen, it was breaking new on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, with the headlines of the biggest revolution since color television. Meanwhile for years I had wanted these portable video players with these beautiful screen. Go figure.

That Slate demo was more of a weak tease than anything else. And it took them 11 months to get it to market. During that time, Samsung started from scratch and still beat them to market.

If people get excited about Apple products it's because they have a great track record of creating and transforming markets. Microsoft and its partners had well over a decade to do whatever they wanted with the tablet and all they could come up with for 10 years was laptops with touchscreens.

 

[Consultant]

Folks, there is only 1 instance of "kitchen"
CONTROL OF APPLIANCES, KITCHEN AND HOME

The car thing is:
PROGRAMMABLE TACTILE TOUCH SCREEN DISPLAYS AND MAN-MACHINE INTERFACES FOR IMPROVED VEHICLE INSTRUMENTATION AND TELEMATICS

It is not kitchen in a vehicle.

Can't wait to read some of the comments here.

I mean, OMG, can you imagine this place if the story was the other way around. Can you imagine if Kinect was an Apple product and then a month after it came out Microsoft decided to make a similar product?

Do you know these published patents have root dating back in 12/28/1999?

 

[wirelessmacuser]

MS didn't invent kinect, a small israeli company that deals with the IDF did. there was even a story a few weeks ago how they pitched it to Apple first but didn't want to deal with them due to apple's NDA demands so they took it to MS

So what? Apples pilfered more than their share of devices then claimed they invented them. It's all a game anyway. No big deal.

 

[Aeolius]

What do you think they will call it?

The Moderna Wondermajor All-Automatic Convenience Centerette, of course!

 

[Consultant]

Nah, I just think in this case it has to do with the fact that Steve has made really good friends with people who run the media. A bunch of companies introduce a slate, not one peep from the media, a few weeks later apple introduces the iPad it's breaking news everywhere, including in the Spanish channels. Similar when the iPod had I think a firmware update to allow video on a horrible 1 inch screen, it was breaking new on FOX, CNN, MSNBC, with the headlines of the biggest revolution since color television. Meanwhile for years I had wanted these portable video players with these beautiful screen. Go figure.

Fail. There is nothing on the market that works like an iPad. Nothing as thin, nothing with touch display that works well, nothing with long battery life, etc.

Someone needs to hang out at Microsheep rumors instead.

 

[reactions]

Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/532.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0.5 Mobile/8B117 Safari/6531.22.7)

I'm buying it because it's apple

Apple gives u wings

Er wait

 

[acslater017]

Projected virtual keyboard on a stove-top. That sounds like an EXCELLENT idea.

I'm glad I wasn't the only one bothred by the multitouch stove.

"Steve, I burned myself on my iStove"

"You're not touching it right. - Sent from my iToaster"

But seriously, what is this about? I love most Apple products, and have always thought that home appliances are the most low-tech of all consumer products these days. I would love a general-purpose, internet-enabled control center, where I could turn on the sprinklers, preheat my oven, etc. from my phone. That seems very un-Apple though.

 

[Consultant]

So what? Apples pilfered more than their share of devices then claimed they invented them. It's all a game anyway. No big deal.

Sure, Apple definitely pilfered iPod, iMac, iTunes, iPhone, etc.

 

[GoodWatch]

MS didn't invent kinect, a small israeli company that deals with the IDF did. there was even a story a few weeks ago how they pitched it to Apple first but didn't want to deal with them due to apple's NDA demands so they took it to MS

Can I compare this with the fact that Apple didn't invent iTunes but just bought the concept? Yes? Then we're cool on that.

 

[RT2020]

It's going to be funny as hell when these kitchens are 10 years old.

If I were building a kitchen, I would rather invest in craftsmanship and quality materials.

 

[t0mat0]

This is a lot more Microsoft Research Labs style stuff. They've demoed some of this in a way already.

NO real mention of the visual gesture Kinect side - seems they're grasping at memes without showing connection. Would be interesting to hear more about these patents in more depth.

 

[Lennholm]

MS didn't invent kinect, a small israeli company that deals with the IDF did. there was even a story a few weeks ago how they pitched it to Apple first but didn't want to deal with them due to apple's NDA demands so they took it to MS

Just like Apple didn't invent multi-touch, they just bought the company that did. More examples?, how about iTunes, Mac OS X, Coverflow, the clickwheel, the list goes on

 

[Aeolius]

I would hope this is not an all-in-one solution. They need to account for families like mine - I have 2 dishwashers that seem to always stay busy, an all-refrigerator unit, 2 stand-up freezers, large apron sink, stove with a pot-filler, and oven.

I would also hope the unit would not be as boxy as the drawing, as I do not care for modern style designs. My dream kitchen would look like something out of the Addams Family, with a big cauldron over an open flame.

What Apple needs to devise is a combination washer/dryer that also folds clothes. THAT would sell like hotcakes.

 

[Dr.Buzz]

OBviously this is a pet project

This isn't for commercial use. Steve has been planning his "apple House" for more than a decade. Now that he has permission to build it, he must have people at work designing full integration at home just for him with barely any public intention of a product.

Think about it...

 

[Catalyx]

I'm surprised everyone's so dismissive about this when Apple has proved naysayers wrong time after time after time after time...

Patents are carefully crafted but rudimentary concepts that people refine much further before turning into a product. Otherwise you'd be giving away too much to competitors who monitor applications.

Why shouldn't Apple move further into consumer electronics? I'd bet it won't be long at all before you can control every electrical device in the house with an iPad...

 

[lilo777]

Finally - a dishwasher from Apple.

Unibody dishwasher from Apple - I can not wait!

 

[corywoolf]

never mind the rumor... who the hell made these diagrams? these things are part of the reason why these things are so hard to believe as Apple being interested. They look like they were hand drawn by someone with depth perception issues.

Exactly what I was thinking...

I sure would hate to spill something on the beautiful "cpunter top".

 

[ngenerator]

What the eff?

 

[irwcll94]

That's what Steve has in his new house he's building.

 

[shartypants]

Step 1: Acquire patents

It will be interesting to see what they do with it. My guess would be something in the workspace (or just in front of your laptop/iPad).