Article first published as The Kinect Deterrent on Technorati.
The Kinect user viewing problem is quite concerning. In theory, some patents applied for would allow Microsoft technology to watch you at home. However such a policy is ridiculously hard to uphold.
The 094444 Patent in Layman’s Terms
You may not want to read through that whole thing. However it gives Microsoft the ability to view users through technology in order to protect the intellectual property of themselves and others. In short it lets them look at you when they want if you use their devices when you are near their devices that have cameras on them.
No Way to Watch Everyone
The simple fact that there will be so many Kinect cameras makes it impossible to enforce on a common sense level. Microsoft would have to hire an additional work force to catch even a significant percentage of offenders. So is Microsoft doing this? All signs point to no as they are only increasing their skilled workforce.
Microsoft Knows This
Only an idiot would think that even a massive company like Microsoft would be able to watch a significant percentage of homes. So what is the point of this? The same as the point in United Kingdom where they have over a million cameras and climbing; cameras act as a deterrent. Pirates of games and movies most often do so with the expectation they are not being watched.
What to Learn From This
Microsoft clearly thinks that deterrents, no matter how invasive, are very effective. When they repealed their DRM and always-on policies this was missing from the announcement. They did however mention that the camera can be turned off after a public outcry. As such for many thinking people it is not a problem, much less for law-abiding people. However it’s an unfortunate vision of the future for gaming.
The Word from On High
Microsoft Executives have also stated that players will have to opt-in to having information shared from the camera. This makes perfect sense. The Kinect patent was never meant as a new world order privacy sapping system. It was just meant to intimidate pirates. Only time will tell whether this gamble pays off.
