Google Buys Foxconn Patents For Head-Mounted Tech 38
An anonymous reader writes "Google has snapped up a parcel of patents from Hon Hai Precision Industry, the Taiwanese electronic manufacturer more commonly known as Foxconn, in a move seemingly designed to bolster its Glass headsets against potential competitors. In a statement obtained by The Wall Street Journal, Hon Hai described the patents sold to the Chocolate Factory as 'Head Mounted Technology' that can create virtual images 'superimposed on a real-world view.'"
isn't there prior art (Score:3)
Re:isn't there prior art (Score:4, Insightful)
It's a patent. Your point was ...?
Re: (Score:2)
It's a patent. Your point was ...?
...for sharks?
Re: (Score:2)
isn't there prior art in head-up displays used by airforce pilots for decades?
These aren't patents for the general concept of HUD. They are patents for specific implementation methods. ProTip: To understand a patent, you need to actually look at the patent and read the claims. The Slashdot summary is seldom sufficient.
Against or because of? (Score:3)
Google generally doesn't use it patents for attacking other companies, only for defence. It seems more likely that they are just making sure some troll doesn't sue them later on when they claim to have invented Glass in the mid 90s or something.
Re: Against or because of? (Score:5, Informative)
Well that is mainly because they never really invented something new, except Earth.
I filed 2 patents while I was at Google. One of my colleagues filed 5. On the floor where I worked in a single building, I believe the total was 106 over the period of time we had all been there. Other groups turned in smaller numbers, but some, such as the "Google Van" and "Self Driving car" and "Google X" groups turned in more. As long as you count employee inventions assigned to the company, I'd have to say Google invents quite a lot.
Re: (Score:1)
Well that is mainly because they never really invented something new, except Earth.
I like how you kpt that quote. Google bought Earth IIRC. The main "innovation" was that it didn't cost $20k like competing GIS systems.
believe the total was 106 over the period of time we had all been there.
Well done, 106 worthless things were done while you were there.
Seriously, the state of the patent system is so bad that 106 patents is utterly meaningless. I've actually examined one or two patents in detail on slashdot.
Re: (Score:2)
Google Earth is NOT a GIS system. I can not map watershed flow information on Google Earth.
Re: (Score:2)
Google Earth is NOT a GIS system. I can not map watershed flow information on Google Earth.
OK, not a very *good* GIS system. It's OK for some of the stuff, like displaying stuff overlaid.
Anyway, that's a good point: a lot of people count seeing a feature poor version of something already popular in a niche industry that they've never personally heard of as innovation.
Re: (Score:3)
http://www.ipo.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Top-300_6.23.13.pdf[ipo.org]
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
They were beaten to most of the features of Google Earth by Microsoft Terraserver, which launched first.
Which was beaten to most of its features by NASA Worldwind, which launched first.
BTW, the original Terraserver (i.e. non-Microsoft) came first, but lacked most of the features we know in such services today, such as stitching images together into a globe.
[insert NeverEndingStory reference here]
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
Google generally doesn't use it patents for attacking other companies, only for defence.
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
why don't they release it to the public? That way you they can still use it at defense.
In what way? They cannot use something that belongs to public to counter-sue anybody.
Re: (Score:2)
Glass is a HMD or Head Mounted Display.
Heads up displays are completely different in every single way. It's like comparing an Fresh Orange to a Bugatti Veyron.
Foxconn invents stuff? (Score:1)
.
Layers? (Score:1)
Isn't that nothing more then adding a layer which is already patented? ya i know its not just as simple as that to get it done but a layer is a layer wither its dont for cartooning/animating to super imposing. Seems to me this might have prior art somewhere.
Re: (Score:2)
Glass is a product. Google did engineer that product. Nobody is saying that glass is the first or best HMD.