Microsoft Patent Uses Kinect to Limit Content and Target Advertising

By Karla Robinson
November 8, 2012

Microsoft has filed a patent application outlining a new way to use the Kinect motion controller that could allow content creators to limit content or help cable providers target ads based on viewers.
“The patent has the ominous title of ‘Content Distribution Regulation by Viewing User,'” Geek.com explains. “It details a system whereby the people sitting in view of a TV can be detected using cameras and sensors like those found in the Kinect motion controller.
“Once logged, the content provider can assess the audience and either choose to charge more for viewing the content or block access based on there being too many people.”
The post points out that cable providers could use the system to determine viewers’ ages in order to limit mature content or provide more relevant ads.
“But even so, this isn’t a system that would go down well with consumers, and how are they going to enforce its use? ‘This content can only be viewed with the Microsoft Kinect turned on’ is not a message I can see working as part of a content distribution system,” suggests the post.
“It’s no surprise the [Microsoft] team is continuing to figure out new ways to use the device, I just wish they were coming up with ideas that are a little less draconian.”

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