OT: Philips patents device that forces you to watch commercials

[trekgeezer]

Read this: The Advert Enforcer

I like the part about paying a fee to be able to skip the commercials.

[Ash]

When I read that, I got about a quarter of the way through the micro electric generator part and thought that was how they were going to stop people from watching ads!

Then I realized it was about a different patent.
LOL!  (duh!)

Who are they to make us a captive audience!?
They can take that patent and shove it you know where...

[daveblackeye15]

I'm not buying that! I want to be able to skip commericals!

[ulthar]

Until they invent an automatic set of clamps that come out of my chair AND a mechanism to prevent me from turning OFF the TV, they can never force me to watch the commercials.  I HATE commercials.  I generally mute them, or leave the room.

The only ones I really enjoy are during NASCAR races .... and not so many of those, either.

[raj]

Ulthar, don't give them any ideas . . .

[LH-C]

ulthar Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
  I HATE commercials.  I
> generally mute them, or leave the room.


I do the same exact thing! 99% of commericals these
days are so idiotic, that you loose brain power if you
watch them!

[Jim H]

It's too late.  The earliest this could really matter is, quite literally, 2015+.  There's too many existing recorders.  And who would buy the new recorders with this "feature"?  ESPECIALLY since we all know the Chinese/Korean/Taiwanese off-brands will never add it.

I guess they COULD add it to digital cable boxes though, in the next few years...  That would annoy me enough to switch back to regular cable.

[LH-C]

Jim H Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>  That would annoy
> me enough to switch back to regular cable.

Except for the fact that in the coming years
(5 or 6 I think it is; maybe even less) analog
cable won't exist.

[akiratubo]

Sooner or later, it will be illegal to not own a TV, on the premise that it will increase national security (gotta have quick alerts in case of terror, you know).  Then it will be illegal to turn off your mandatory TV for the same reason.

[daveblackeye15]

I remember Stephen king wrote the "Running Man" and I think in that story every household got and had to keep a t.v. or a "free-vee' and watch all of the reality shows.

That's gonna happen eventually.

[Fearless Freep]

Not only do I not watch moer commercials (buy leaving the room to get a drink, or mute it and talk to my wife, or...lot's of things...) commercials that annoy me I refuse to be the products of the company...and I tell my friends

[dean]

akiratubo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Sooner or later, it will be illegal to not own a
> TV, on the premise that it will increase national
> security (gotta have quick alerts in case of
> terror, you know).  Then it will be illegal to
> turn off your mandatory TV for the same reason.
>

That sounds like a great idea for a short story/film!  

[Neville]

Funny thing is that the main reason TV channels have for condemning P2P sharing of series and TV shows is that in that way they don't watch the commercials. Now that some are starting to allow their free download (through their own systems), they mentioned they would include commercials.

Unwanted side effect: Now I feel thrilled when I switch channels at home to avoid the ads. Makes me feel like world's most wanted criminal (yes, I'm THAT lame).

[dean]

What I find funny is the skills a couch potato can learn in terms of timing: it's considered a good thing being able to time the ads so that you can change channels when the break starts, and change back just as the show starts back again.  Some people win gold medals, others have uncanny senses of timing.  Great stuff really.

That being said, screw 'em!  Plain, simple and elegent: screw 'em.  I'd rather have my ads outside of the show I'm watching rather than have tv shows filled to the brim with 'subtle' advertising.  I almost sense a "Truman Show" moment where I'll be watching a new episode of Stargate, and some alien will turn to the screen and say: "When trying to destroy humanity, I brush with Colgate, because there's no point in total domination, if you can't even keep your teeth clean!"

I mean, reality TV shows lace it in as much as humanely possible for the most case anyway, I don't need that crap all over actual shows as well [well we don't need it moreso than usual at least]

Unless you find another way to get money to the TV stations, ads are a must, better we leave it as it is now rather than find new ways to get to us.

[trekgeezer]

I've noticed that the WB network  has become very blatant about product placements. Someone gets a new car on Everwood and it' not only mentioned but the brand and model name are said out loud, then the next commercial break features said car.