Google is awarded patent for environment-based advertising

Google has been awarded a patent for ‘advertising based on environmental conditions,’ which means that you will be getting ads based on your surround at that point in time. The patent reads, ‘An advertisement is identified based on the environmental condition, and the advertisement will be provided to the remote device.’

There are suggestions flitting about that this could be hinting at future Android smartphones with more sensors to collect general environmental data such as temperature, humidity, light, sound etc. A Google spokesperson said to the BBC earlier today, “We file (patent) applications on a variety of ideas that our employees come up with. Some of those ideas mature into real products or services, some don’t. Prospective product announcements should not necessarily be inferred from our patent applications.”

Although the patent does set of the warning signals over concerns of privacy issues, Google claims that the potential for environment-based advertising is astounding. They also provide examples like your phone advertising winter clothes when you’re using it in cold weather or when you’re in a noisy environment you will see advertisements for noise-cancelling headphones.