therefor, it's trying to screw me in some way, somehow, at one point or another.
I don't trust SONY any more than I can throw my mother-in-law, and believe me, I'd like to !

It's a game controller plus you can use it as a universal remote for your TV/stereo/surround/cable/etc. etc. And the buttons for all the other devices will be part of a touch screen LCD that can change depending on the device you are operating, and need not have anything to do with game play.

Look at how complicated a universal remote that comes with a cable/dish DVR, and you understand why they didn't want to complicate a game controller with that.

Surely if Nintendo's console number 1 was called Wii, number 2 should be called Poo?

I wonder if Nintendo will name the next console Wii Too.

The English play on word seems to make sense to me.

While touch controls work for a wandheld system, or even a home theater remote. They will not work for a home game console. Anything that requires you to look at the tv rather than the touchscreen makes the touchscreen useless. You'll never be able to figure out you've been hitting triangle instead of square until you're dead. Purely a speculative crap patent.

The quotes in the article don't say anything that indictes the controller is compatible with other brands.

The controller could just be compatible with sony's consoles (PS2, PS3, PS4?) and other appliances (TVs, stereos etc)

this way no one else can bring out a universal controller, as Sony has now patented the idea. They aren't looking to provide or participate in a open industry standard, but are trying to prevent one from ever happening.

Because can't imagine a touch screen to actually be used for the purpose: no sensing for location, no tactile feedback that a key was pressed. Even with real keys in addition, little use and so obvious that not actually patentable.