First, the concept: Sony thinks it can improve your game playing experience if it knows when you smile or laugh at something on screen.

It will do this by tracking bodily gestures and sounds via a camera and microphone connected up to a PlayStation 3, and may well handle other emotions as well.

These could be used as controllers for a game, or possibly extended to give some “Big Brother” feedback if you’re watching a film or TV programme.

I suppose there are many possibilities.

But now we come to the patent drawing itself. As well as a rather boring flowchart, we have this great diagram that makes me wonder just what went through the mind of the designer when he/she was drawing it. I guess most patents are fairly mundane affairs, and this was the only way to spice up an otherwise boring day.

Now, has anyone invented that machine?

Via