Microsoft files patent for device that enforces licenses through visual surveillance

Microsoft has filed a patent for a system that could potentially use a camera to determine whether you're breaking its content-viewing rules or not. US Patent Application 20120278904 describes the ability to use a Kinect-like camera-enabled device for "continuously monitoring a number of users at a display device during the performance of [some] content," which basically means the camera would watch the faces of anyone watching a display showing licensed content (like a movie or a game), and then track those faces to see if the viewers had appropriately licensed it.

The patent lists a number of options for determining the validity of the possible viewers, including counting their number (as in, making sure only three people were able to see a movie), or actually identifying specific users (to make sure Julie isn't watching a movie that Mark was only licensed to see). The patent itself doesn't specifically mention Kinect, but it does mention the idea of a "gaming and media system" as well as "mobile devices" with the same capability.

Obviously, such a system would have some weaknesses (could you use a picture or a sculpture to spoof the camera?), and the patent states at the end that this is just one possible implementation of a setup like this. But Microsoft is apparently thinking about using Kinect's ability to recognize you for more than just throwing around spells and playing games. In the future, that camera may be used to figure out whether you're following the rules or not.

Reactivating and Server Transfer

Well, under much pressure from friends, I might reactivate my Warcraft account.  With Pandaria coming out real soon and active friends on other servers, I might have to activate and move at least one character to that server. He has an abundance of gold and is willing to help me get someone to 85 at last. Now I just need to decide what class to move. It will be a healer for sure, but which one =/

Glitch to the rescue!

Ninefinger

I've been playing Glitch for a few days now. It's fun, in a really really, casual sort of way. Considering you can learn skills without ever even logging in to the game!

Give it a shot at Glitch.com.

Name Generation

I've always been a fan of having other people do good work for you so here is a great online name generator.

Online Name Generator

It does nick-names, character-names, even random project names for those dreaded but un-named projects at work that tend to go on and on for years without end.

Video Game Free Speech Ruling Aftermath

Video Game Free Speech Ruling Aftermath: "On Monday we discussed the U.S. Supreme Court's decision that a California law banning the sale or rental of violent video games to minors was in violation of the First Amendment's free speech protection. By now, both sides of the debate have had a chance to respond to the Court's ruling. Congressman Joe Baca and CA State Senator Leland Yee pledged to continue the fight for stricter controls on the distribution of violent games, while others cried, 'think of the children.' Game industry groups were unsurprisingly pleased with the decision, but warned that this won't be the end of it, and asked lawmakers to stop wasting time with such legislation in the future. An article at the NY Times points out how the ruling highlights the lack of clear evidence supporting either side of the debate, and Time notes the Supreme Court's double standard, asking, 'Why does the court treat violent images and sexual images so differently?' Finally, an editorial at Gamasutra reminds us that even though most game developers are breathing a sigh of relief, many would like to see the industry shift toward something more creative and meaningful than violence.