Sure Google, why not?! Build whatever smart toy your heart desires, but leave the children out of this.
Google filed a patent for a creepy smart toy, and it’s going to be built by their Nexus Rupin division. The Google X project that seems to take their inspiration from the Chucky movie franchise will make the smart toy fully responsive. This thing that nightmares are based on is going to respond to voice commands not only by speaking to whatever you’re asking it, but also with facial expressions and actions.
Sure, that seriously couldn’t backfire in any way, could it Google?
Well, do you know what experts say on this matter? That the smart toy will be easily hacked, and said hackers will have access to the video feed from the bear’s camera, and also to the microphone. Not only will your child’s playtime be available to any creep on the internet who knows how to hack a live feed, but the whole family can be spied on – without a problem.
In an era where everyone is afraid of the NSA spying on us, Google’s patent seriously couldn’t have been leaked at a better time. It seems to be a trend with the big G – Google Glass suffered from the same fate.
If we take a look at the patent, we notice that Google’s smart toy will sport stuffed animals mainly – rabbits, bears, puppies, and other cute creatures, that are just ready to ponce when you’re at your utmost vulnerable state. I keed, I keed.
Now, this isn’t a sure thing. We all know how Google loves to file patents for different things, and not make them a reality – remember that patent for an elevator that would transport people straight to the moon? Where’s that Google? Where is my safe trip to the Moon?
In a statement to BBC, Google has said that – “We file patent applications on a variety of ideas that our employees come up with. Some of those ideas later mature into real products or services, some don’t. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patent applications.”
” When those devices are aimed specifically at children, then for many this will step over the creepy line. Children should be able to play in private and shouldn’t have to fear this sort of passive invasion of their privacy. It is simply unnecessary.” The Center for Democracy and Technology has jumped straight to the Google’s neck.
Do you think Google’s idea will come to fruition? Or do you think the big G won’t produce the smart toy mainly because of the huge backlash it has received?
