“A system outlined in an Apple patent on Tuesday takes data from a number of sensors deployed throughout a handheld device and feeds the information into a ‘situational awareness module,’ which then triggers a number of functions, including vibration settings, music playback and sleep mode,” Mikey Campbell reports for AppleInsider.
“Apple’s U.S. Patent No. 8,385,039 for ‘”Electronic device with automatic mode switching’ joins a variety of existing and pending properties related to sensor management to create a highly automated system that can ‘anticipate’ a user’s needs,” Campbell reports. “By using temperature, force, ambient lighting, vibration, pressure and a multitude of other sensors, Apple’s “intuitive portable electronic device” can predict what function a user is likely to perform next.”
Campbell reports, “The patent covers a litany of implementations, including playing songs based on how a user takes the device out of their pants, switching between ring and vibrate modes based on ambient light and adjusting volume based on ambient noise.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Geo-fencing is already delivering some measure of “situational awareness” by popping up the Starbucks payment screen on iPhones when users come close to Starbucks shops, for example. It will be very interesting to see how far these sorts of anticipatory functions can be taken.
Apple vaporware “guaranteed” to boost slumping stock. Oh, Apple, have you sunk so low that you have to stoke the market with imaginary products?
MacFreek,
Guess you have been missing the last 5 years of patent suits. Sorry to hear about that. 🙁
Have an idea, patent it. Then if you ever do part of that idea, you have a patent to fight the patent trolls with. JAT.
And this passed the ‘useful’ threshold of the patenting process, how again?
AD, see above reply. Its not how useful an idea is, its getting a patent just in case. Its sad but how this country is working now.
JAT
en
What if all you need is a cool drink of water.
tbone,
Need cool water…. that will be $ 14.95 plus tax. The idea was patented a while ago and patent trolls are charging big fees for use of the concept.
Scary world we are coming to.
JAT.
en
Great the iPhone will become socially aware and start telling me I’m sorry you can’t eat that cinnamon roll you are overweight please choose a salad. Then it will take over the world like in robot.
So I guess it will have a Mistress mode? Maybe an undercover narc mode?