Check out this awesome yet creepy Ted talk (video embedded below or click here). Along with a bunch of other ingenious image processing technology, the video shows how researchers were able to re-create audio of a person talking by analyzing tiny vibrations in objects near the person. In one example, they shot a video of a chip bag through a window and were able to create synthetic audio of a person talking in the room via image processing alone.
This works because talking and other sounds create vibrations in the air that in turn vibrate objects in the local vicinity. These movements are extremely small and imperceivable to the naked eye, but with high definition video and the right image processing software, it’s apparently possible to detect minor changes in the video and use the data to generate synthetic audio. In many ways, this is similar to a microphone, which converts vibrations into an electrical signal, but in this case, the signal is generated visually instead of through direct connection to a vibrating substrate.
This would likely only work on certain objects or surfaces, and there would certainly be limitations based on distance of the surface from the audio source, but it’s a bit scary that it might be possible for someone to listen in on your conversations by simply recording video of objects or surfaces that are close to where you are talking.
The video below automatically starts near the end where the technology discussed above is presented, but it’s definitely worthwhile to watch the video all the way through. Enjoy.
Fig. 4 of US Patent 6490999 B1 -Snake Leash Patent
Snake obesity is at epidemic levels these days, especially for domesticated snakes. These snakes can slither back and forth in their terrariums, but this is not enough exercise to keep the pounds off. The only solution is to get these fat snakes outside for a walk, but letting chubby snakes roam free on their own is not a good idea. Lucky for us, Mr. Donald Robert Martin Boys of Bella Vista, California, invented a novel snake leash, which is described in U.S. patent 6,490,999 that issued in 2002.
Sounds great for my snake, but won’t this make me look uncool? You must be kidding. Fig. 4 of the patent should be a clear example of how awesome you will look walking a snake around your neighborhood. Killer sunglasses, a serious stare, and a pair of classy loafers is only one of the many looks that goes well with snake-walking.
Yes, some ideas can be patentable, but not all ideas. This post explores the basics of what differentiates patentable and non-patentable ideas and gives suggestions on how to determine whether your idea might be patentable.
Venn diagram showing patentable ideas.
What is an idea?
First, let’s define what “idea” means. For our purposes here, we are talking about thoughts or conceptions that are primarily the result of mental activity, but that have not yet become physical products or prototypes. In other words, an idea is the earliest stage of the inventing process, where an invention is still only in the mind or has only been written about or sketched out.
Patents Can Only Protect Certain Types of Ideas
Some ideas will not be patentable simply because they are not the right kind of idea. For example, if you have an idea for an awesome movie, a new book, the perfect product name, or a catchy slogan for your company, these ideas will not be patentable simply because patents do not protect these sorts of things. On the other hand, such ideas might be protectable by copyrights or trademarks.
Patents can protect ideas for utilitarian products like mechanical devices, computer hardware and software, biotechnology, and even methods of making or using a product. However, patent law has carved out some exceptions of utilitarian inventions that cannot be patented, including laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas. For example, without more, mathematical equations and common processes being implemented on a computer are likely not patentable because they are considered abstract ideas.
Even if an idea is related to the right subject matter, patent law also requires that the idea be (1) describable in sufficient detail such that an average person in the field would be able to make and use the proposed product or method; and (2) the described product or method must be new and non-obvious compared to known technology.
Steps to determining whether an idea is patentable.
Sufficient Description of Idea Fortunately, the requirement is not that the inventor be able to sufficiently describe the invention, and in many cases, an idea can be patentable even if the inventor would not know how to implement it. For example, if the inventor can describe an idea to a patent attorney such that the patent attorney is able to then add sufficient detail, then the idea might be patentable. The required level of detail required for patentability changes dramatically depending on the type of invention, so talking with a patent attorney as early as possible is the best way to determine if you have enough detail to patent your idea.
Product or Method Must Be New And Non-Obvious The patent system does not afford protection to ideas or inventions that are already publicly known or that would be obvious in view of what is already publicly known. Being “publicly known” refers not only to existing products, but also to any technology disclosure such as a patent publication, a blog post, a video, a live presentation, or the like (collectively known as “prior art”). For more information, an in-depth discussion of prior art and patentability can be found in Patents Demystified.
How Can You Find Out if Your Idea Is Patentable? This post should give you an understanding of the analysis that goes into determining whether an idea or invention is patentable, but the best and most reliable way to know is to seek the counsel of a trusted patent attorney. For some, filing a patent application may be possible much sooner than expected, whereas for others, an idea may need to be substantially more developed. Just as much as inventors should not waste their time and money if an idea is not patentable, they should also not wait longer than necessary to file a patent application. Luckily, such an initial evaluation of an idea or invention can be done extremely fast, and most patent attorneys will even do it free of charge.
Want insider’s guide to the patent process for entrepreneurs, startups and inventors?
Learn how successful companies protect their ideas and inventions. Official patent guide of the American Bar Association and #1 Amazon best seller in patent books. Used at top universities including Harvard and Stanford.
Check out this awesome yet creepy Ted talk (video embedded below or click here). Along with a bunch of other ingenious image processing technology, the video shows how researchers were able to re-create audio of a person talking by analyzing tiny vibrations in objects near the person. In one example, they shot a video of a chip bag through a window and were able to create synthetic audio of a person talking in the room via image processing alone.
