Recent patents by Microsoft and Verizon are meant to detect TV viewers and then take specific actions depending upon what is seen or heard. The Verizon patent specifically mentions detecting the hypothetical activities of “cuddling, fighting, participating in a game or sporting event, and talking” Microsoft’s Kinect-like camera sensors would be capable of counting heads in the room and charging a fee based on how many viewers it “sees” before you hit play. Verizon also wants to determine your identity as well as anyone else within the detection area, “based on the physical and/or voice attributes of the user””]

