Xerox patents an all knowing browser

PHOTOCOPYING outfit Xerox has asked for a patent for browser technology that can work out all your demographic information and give it to shops.

The technology sniffs out all all your data based on where you have browsed. It can work out your age, sex and perhaps even your income by analysing the pattern of pages you choose to access on the web and comparing them to a database of surfing patterns from other users with a known background.

The company thinks that the idea could be used by online merchants and advertisers who want to identify the types of users visiting their websites.

The idea only works if people do not share the same computer or delete their histories. Fortunately for Xerox a patent application does not need to address any privacy concerns.

The patent can be read here. If you have insomnia, reading patents can help. µ