Google's Patent Can Have A Teddy Bear Gaze Back At You Upon Command

The word 'anthropomorphism' has a meaning that could seem 'creepy' to some. Assigning human characteristics to any not-human thing may sound like a plot from a thriller movie, but a technology surrounding this is what some of the Google engineers may be working upon. A patent filed by Richard Wayne DeVaul and Daniel Aminzade in the name of Google has recently been discovered. It talks of a new device incorporated in the shape of a doll or a toy (possibly a teddy bear or a bunny as is apparent from the patent images) which is configured to control multiple media devices. As per the patent description, the user can give a spoken media device command to the anthropomorphic toy and it will in turn lift its head and gaze back at the user. Not just that, in fact, it will also transmit the command to the concerned media device. In short, this teddy bear can act as your personal remote for operating various devices in your house.


The teddy bear will have a camera strapped to its head and have a microphone for receiving the audio signals. If the image above is anything to go by, it seems the eyes will be the camera, ears as the microphones, nose, face and arms are the motors - making the toy work similar to how human perception works.

As Google was to comment upon the patent, it blatantly put that they have several patents based on the ideas of their employees, but not every one of them is developed or introduced as a product. The internet folks believe this invention is a bit 'creepy' as a teddy bear lifting its head and staring back at you may not always be that friendly a sight.

What are your thoughts about this Google patent? Share your opinions with us in comments below.

Source: Google patents 'creepy' internet toys to run the home - BBC News