• On MovieTome: See the villain of IRON MAN 2!
October 30, 2006 1:10 PM PST

Man patents ball for throwing

by Will Greenwald

It seems that we've come full circle. First, the ball was invented, and we used it to play catch. Then, the video game was invented, and we used it to pretend to play catch. Then, the motion-sensing video game was invented, and we used it to mimic playing catch. Now, a Mr. Louis Rosenberg is trying to patent a ball with which you can play catch.

It's not quite as ridiculous or opportunistic as it sounds. Rosenberg's idea is to fill an actual ball with electronics that can record direction, speed, and other variables. You actually play with the ball, and the ball's processor can score your throws. These scores can be displayed on a nearby console, such as a PSP, or shown through a head-mounted display. The game of catch has never seemed so high-tech.

Recent posts from Crave
Poll: Why don't you have an iPod or MP3 player?
Oppo's affordabe high-end Blu-ray player is here
iPhone 3GS jailbreak, 'purplera1n,' hits Web
Apple patents point to haptics, fingerprints, RFID
Friday Poll: We the ppl--imagining a digital 1776
Gadgettes 144: The Childhood Nostalgia Episode
Duet D8 is no iPhone clone
Rocking out with stereo Bluetooth
Add a Comment (Log in or register) (3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
Did he patent it?
by kb9mwo November 1, 2006 10:20 AM PST
Your title says he patented it. But your article says he is trying to patent it. Which is it?

Is he patent pending or actually patented.

Please get the story straight.
Reply to this comment
Think you missed the point...
by John Wooden November 1, 2006 5:47 PM PST
"Patents", "trying to patent", "hopes that he gets a patent before anyone else
gets a patent"- that's not really the main point of the article, is it? It's the
ball, man! Get a life- or hobby- or something. (Wait a minute- I'm
commenting on your comment...)
Reply to this comment
My hobby is inventing and patents.
by kb9mwo November 1, 2006 9:04 PM PST
I understand the media spin to create the title that is joke-like. The reality is that as a tech site, it is a neat idea and technically, the title is wrong if he didn't patent it. As a geeky technojunkie that is "into" CNET, I would think they wouldn't try a literal funny.

I have a patent. You could phrase it "Man patents wheel for measuring" It's factual. not just meant to get people to read it. All those late night talk show hosts that clip the news to make these funny statements are lame. So was this.

Technically, I re-invented the wheel...

Shove that in your pipe and smoke it.
(3 Comments)
  • prev
  • 1
  • next
advertisement

About Crave

The name says it all. Crave is our blog about gorgeous gadgets and other crushworthy stuff. If you would like to contact Crave with a tip or comment, please write to: crave@cnet.com

Add this feed to your online news reader

Crave topics

Making sense of Windows 7 upgrades

faq The basics and the fine print on Microsoft's options for those eyeing the next operating system from Redmond.
• Full Windows 7 coverage

Road Trip 2009: Big Sky Country

CNET News reporter Daniel Terdiman takes his car full of gadgets to the Rockies and the Great Plains in search of tech, science, nature, and more.
• America's Fortress: Cheyenne Mountain

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right