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BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU
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BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU |
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Subject: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: JohnInKansas Date: 12 Dec 12 - 12:45 PM Verizon Patent for TV that Watches YOU Devin Coldewey, NBC News Verizon patenting DVR that monitors for cuddling Verizon / USPTO > An illustration from Verizon's patent, showing a DVR that encompasses a room with its camera. [image at link] > A patent application from Verizon describes a DVR that would watch the living room for "ambient actions" like people singing, fighting, or even cuddling. It would then choose "appropriate" advertisement to show based on its analysis. It isn't the first attempt at this kind of thing, but it might be the creepiest. > ... [more inanity at the link] This is far from being an original idea, as there have been many similar attempts in the past. The intent is that by observing what activities those watching were participating in, advertising could be selected appropriate to the activities. My first thought was that a suitable topic here might be: "If you were a TV watching [one of our regulars] what kind of advertising would you flip up for [him/her]?" Of course that would require some assumptions about what "normal" (for that person) activities the subject would be likely to be engaged with (which wouldn't necessarily need to be described?) and also finding and either linking or describing an ad or advertising type. The few here who seem to not recognize the difference between bullying and teasing might present some hazard, but if suggestions can be kept reasonable the possibilities should be abundant. Flattery is of course permissible, and "thoughtful tweaking" if kept gentle. Sort of like picking an XMAS present for someone who's not on your regular list ? John |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 12 Dec 12 - 03:00 PM DVR- digital video recorder? The box one gets from the cable or satellite company and is attached to the TV? Most of us just call it the "cable box." Put a Bandaid over the eye? Or put on a good pornographic act and demand payment for a "reality" show? |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 12 Dec 12 - 03:05 PM It all seems pretty silly, John. There are so few activities one can do in a living room. Does this mean nobody would advertise detergent because nobody does laundry in the living room? Nobody would advertise cars because nobody drives one in the living room? Of course, many families have more than one TV in the house. If the TV in the rec room says "advertise beer" while the TV in the kitchen says "advertise pop-tarts", who will break the deadlock? I think I'm lucky I don't even have a TV. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: Bill D Date: 12 Dec 12 - 05:39 PM So... what does it advertise if it catches the dog licking itself? I WOULD put a bandaid over the camera. (They probably have it designed to shut off if it can't see anything, though) |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: Rapparee Date: 12 Dec 12 - 05:43 PM When my brother was at Ft. Meyer, VA training in Vietnamese they would inspect the rooms by looking in a peephole in the door. He put a picture of his eye over the peephole. Yes, he got in trouble but the First Sergeant could barely contain his laughter as he was doing the chewing out. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,999 Date: 12 Dec 12 - 06:36 PM This is getting more and more like The Truman Show as time continues on. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: Bee-dubya-ell Date: 13 Dec 12 - 09:29 AM It would make more sense to me to have the TV listen to you instead of watch. If I were a marketer, I'd be much more interested in what a couple is talking about during a TV program that isn't holding their interest than in whether or not they're silently cuddling during one that is. Voice recognition software that listens for certain key words could determine whether they're more apt to be in the market for a new pickup truck or a jug of laundry detergent. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: frogprince Date: 13 Dec 12 - 07:09 PM We get way too many viagra and cialis ads already... |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: gnu Date: 13 Dec 12 - 07:44 PM Don't kid yourselves. Those cameras all ALREADY implanted in your monitors and THEY are watching you right now. froggy! Stop that! That is disgusting! Ahhh... what's the name of that website, froggy? |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: JohnInKansas Date: 13 Dec 12 - 11:47 PM If the TV in the rec room says "advertise beer" while the TV in the kitchen says "advertise pop-tarts", who will break the deadlock? One of the most frequent ads on our TV is for a system that lets you watch as many different channels as you want simultaneously, while recording any number of other channels at the same time, for a single monthly fee. If they can keep track of which channel goes to what set, they surely could keep up with which commercials go where ... . I haven't checked my original notes, but the article at the link in the first post appears to have been edited slightly since it first appeared. It does now show: > Update: Verizon has issued a statement regarding the patent: > "Verizon has a well-established track record of respecting its customers' privacy and protecting their personal information. As a company that prizes innovation, Verizon takes pride in its innovators whose work is represented in our patents and patent applications. While we do not comment on pending patent applications, such futuristic patent filings by innovators are routine." Recollection is that previously there was a Verizon comment to the effect of "no current plans to implement the features described." Either of the two can probably be interpreted as "we sort of hoped you wouldn't notice when we start doing it." John |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,999 Date: 14 Dec 12 - 08:52 AM Well, I am not surprised that this has happened. Recall: first it was phone tapping without warrants; then the 'green eyes' all over the place; then drones that can watch what they want, and now TVs that can watch us in our living rooms. The usual statement from many folks on Mudcat was, "If you have nothing to hide, what's to be concerned about?" Yep, sure is a brave new world, innit? |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,999 Date: 14 Dec 12 - 09:41 AM As an aside, the technology already exists to 'see through walls'. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,Chongo Chimp Date: 14 Dec 12 - 11:08 AM If I thought my TV was watchin' ME, I'd do the same thing Elvis did... - Chongo |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: GUEST,leeneia Date: 14 Dec 12 - 01:01 PM Keep in mind that what John linked to is a merely an application for a patent for "Methods and Systems for Presenting an Advertisement Associated with an Ambient Action of a User." I wish 'em good luck at getting that patent. Cameras have been around for a while, software for choosing videos (which is all an ad is) has been around for a while. Methods for playing ads on TV have been around for a while. It's troubling, in terms of privacy, but I'm not putting it on my list of things to worry about. By the way, last time I watched TV with friends, all the women picked up needlework and merely listened to the TV. Guys, prepare yourselves for a barrage of ads for embroidery floss. |
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Subject: RE: BS: New Patent on TV That Watches YOU From: JohnInKansas Date: 14 Dec 12 - 03:38 PM While the new patent application doesn't seem immediately threatening it may be something we need to keep an eye on. A related article that also appeared recently may suggest the amount of interest in such stuff, not from the behavior the article reports, but as information about the capabilities of newer "TV" devices that could facilitate the patent objectives. More general distribution of these new kinds of devices would make the patent much more profitable, if granted. ESPECIALLY for those of us who don't rush out to have the latest fads the article but have some interest in what such junk can do might want to take a quick look at Camera-equipped TV can be hacked > Security researchers have identified a vulnerability in Samsung's Linux-based Smart TV software that could give a hacker near-complete access to the television. This includes any file on the television, any connected USB drive and, yes, the built-in camera and microphones found on the latest top-of-the-line LCD and plasma sets. In effect, this would allow a hacker to hear and see you as you're watching the TV. [Without patent infringement?] DON'T PANIC! (But always carry a towel.) John |
