Microsoft “evitar gueto” patentes suscita controversia

Controversy over a new Microsoft patent has people questioning whether or not the intention has racist undertones.

CNET reported that Microsoft has been granted a EE.UU.. patent that will steer pedestrians away from areas that are high in crime.

“As a pedestrian travels, various difficulties can be encountered, such as traveling through an unsafe neighborhood or being in an open area that is subject to harsh temperatures,” Microsoft stated in their patent claims. “A route can be developed for a person taking into account factors that specifically affect a pedestrian. Por otra parte, the route can alter as a situation of a user changes; por ejemplo, if a user wants to add a stop along a route.”

It’s been coined the “evitar gueto” GPS patent, but its purpose is a bit more complex.

What the technology actually does is collects and analyzes data to give the users the best possible route home. According to Microsoft’s claims, your Windows 7 smartphone would gather “information related to pedestrian travel include maps (por ejemplo, extracted from a database), user history, weather information, crime statistics, demographic information.”

After data has been gathered, Microsoft says a smartphone could be set to “at least one criterion, such as keeping a user safe.”

If used as Microsoft intends, the directions can be used to determine whether or not you should be walking, depending on the weather or commute pattern. The purpose of the patent doesn’t seem as nefarious as it’s been depicted.

La parte de esta patente debe causar preocupación es la sección que indique que el dispositivo puede ser programado para integrar una “anuncio de componente” con un conjunto de direcciones. Significado, no sólo podríamos tomar el camino largo a casa, también podemos vernos obligados a pasar por las vallas publicitarias en la voluntad de Microsoft. Uff!

CBS News: Fuente