Sony is patenting biometric controls

A patent found by the folks at Siliconera reveals designs for PS3 controllers and a handheld device that can monitor your heartbeat, your muscle movements, and how moist your skin is.


In the patent, Sony gave the following list of possible applications for this technology:

Weapons that change depending on how stressed you are. An increase in stress level could make a weapon more accurate or less steady, which will make it difficult to target an enemy. Sony specifically mentions a sniper situation where the weapon becomes more steady if you’re relaxed.

Tensing up your muscles to withstand an attack or charge up a shield.

A video game character whose facial expressions, movements, posture, and even voice changes depending on your biometric data. For example, this character will sweat when a player is nervous.

An adrenaline style boost which will let you run faster, jump higher, and punch harder when stressed.

A health bar that depletes more rapidly if you have a high stress level.

An attack button that changes a character’s move depending if the player is stressed or relaxed.

Background music and scenery that changes depending on your stress level. Matching music is one example, but Sony also proposes to change music to make a player more relaxed. Brightness of objects and the zoom level, representing a higher level of focus, are two ideas for scenery.

A game that adapts difficulty levels depending on a players stress level.

In the gaming industry lately, there have been some trends toward new technology: Motion controls, 3D, non-peripheral gaming. Maybe biometrics are the wave of the future. Maybe, one day, you'll need a DNA scan to access your console. Of course, that would make buying something secondhand would be a real pain.