A Google teddy bear could be on its way

Minds behind the search engine may have come up with a hi-tech cuddly toy

The minds behind the world’s most powerful search engine may have come up with a hi-tech cuddly toy.

A Google patent application describes “an anthropomorphic device, perhaps in the form factor of a doll or toy, [which] may be configured to control one or more media devices”.

Proposed by Google engineers Richard DeVaul and Daniel Aminzade, the US patent outlines a teddy bear-shaped device which will sit in users’ homes, interact with them and get to know their tastes. The doll will switch on the TV when asked, tell the weather forecast and get to know people’s preferences.

In theory, Google’s teddy bear could control computers, lights, fridges and CD player through verbal commands – potentially doing away with remote controls.