Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows • Hacker News Board

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#11

Post by saraid216 » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 8:49 PM UTC

doorty wrote: post #9

In response to determining an unnatural movement and/or an unauthorized user wearing the HMD, the wearable computer triggers a locking mechanism, which can beneficially provide security measures for the wearable computer. So next time that a wearable computer comes to market that wants to lock out unauthorized users, they have to deal with this patent. Seems pretty generic to me.

You realize that's how all patents work, right?

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#12

Post by ryusage » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 9:00 PM UTC

gms7777 wrote: post #8

I find this a bit strange. I think more devices would probably be stolen by setting the device down, or putting it in your bag and it getting snatched, rather than someone pulling it off your head. And unnatural movement is pretty hard to define. Seems like it would be better to just be able to remotely lock them if you know its been stolen than them locking automatically.

You're right, for sure. It seems like a less likely scenario. That being said, the abstract at the bottom of the article makes it sound like the patent involves profiling your normal movement patterns and then using that to determine if the glasses are being worn by someone else. If that's the case, and it actually works, then this might actually cover pretty a broad range of thefts. Anyone had a chance to read the patent yet?

Edit: Thinking more about it, I don't think that could work. Even assuming people had identifiable walking patterns, there's always going to be things that unexpectedly change that (e.g. injury, or heavy bags while shopping).

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#13

Post by brittohalloran » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 9:01 PM UTC

"patent shows" -- crazy stuff is tossed into patents all the time just to cover all possible bases. This in no way means that the actual production Glass units will have this feature.

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#14

Post by brittohalloran » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 9:01 PM UTC

dustywusty wrote: post #5

btilly wrote: post #4

So how does this work in practice? I see a friend with these glasses. As a joke I pull of his glasses from behind and pretend to steal them, then hand them back, and because it sensed that I stole them (which I did) it is now locked and my friend can't use his glasses any more. There are a lot of details to get right. I hope they thought them all through.

It's imaginable the process could be reverted, likely with a Google account password. Similar technologies exist today with phones.

Retina scan?!?

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#15

Post by K2h » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 9:59 PM UTC

So you get punched - and the time you want it most it goes into lock mode. I hope it still continues to monitor when it is locked.

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#16

Post by general-marty » Tue, Jul 17, 2012, 10:44 PM UTC

Alternative title, "Google's project glass will lock down when Google see fit".

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#17

Post by jklein24 » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 4:02 AM UTC

brittohalloran wrote: post #13

"patent shows" -- crazy stuff is tossed into patents all the time just to cover all possible bases. This in no way means that the actual production Glass units will have this feature.

True, but even so, it's good to see Google patenting crazy things like this to protect themselves a little more against the "patent everything" Apple machine.

Re: Google’s Project Glass will lock down when it senses theft, patent shows

#18

Post by Gustomaximus » Wed, Jul 18, 2012, 4:16 AM UTC

gms7777 wrote: post #8

I find this a bit strange. I think more devices would probably be stolen by setting the device down, or putting it in your bag and it getting snatched, rather than someone pulling it off your head. And unnatural movement is pretty hard to define. Seems like it would be better to just be able to remotely lock them if you know its been stolen than them locking automatically.

They will want "unnatural movement" to be hard to closely define so the patent covers as much territory as possible. The specific detection will be work in progress.