Coming to TV: ads about you

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

-------- Original Message --------
Subject:        Re: [IP] Coming to TV: ads about you
Date:   Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:36:44 +0000
From:   J M Sykes <mike.sykes () acm org>
To:     dave () farber net
References:     <43838E82.9080005 () farber net>



Dave,

If someone wants to know who's paying any attention to the output of our 
cable set-top box, they need to know more than what channel it's tuned 
to: they need to know if the TV is actually powered on, and if so 
whether it's switched to the STB output. Which may be being recorded, so 
we can skip the ads later. Even live, I for one turn the sound down for 
breaks, and look at a magazine.

And since the cable company send us bills, they know our post code from 
which they can get a pretty good idea of our demographic characteristics 
anyway, for example 
http://www.upmystreet.com/local/my-neighbours/l/s33+0be.html

There are bigger issues to be horrified about.

Mike Sykes

On 22/11/2005 21:32, David Farber said the following:
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:     Coming to TV: ads about you
> Date:     Tue, 22 Nov 2005 12:12:56 -0800 (PST)
> From:     Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com>
> Reply-To:     Gregory Hicks <ghicks () well com>
> To:     dave () farber net
> CC:     ghicks () cadence com
>
>
>
> Dave:
>
> For IP if you wish...
>
> Are cable boxes the next target for spyware?
>
> http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20051117.wxhyperads17/BNPrint/Business/ 
>
>
> Coming to TV: ads about you
> By KEITH MCARTHUR
> Thursday, November 17, 2005 Posted at 4:41 AM EST
>
> > From Wednesday's Globe and Mail
>
>
> When you watch your favourite program in the not-too-distant future,
> your TV could be watching back.
>
> Cable companies are preparing to install software on digital set-top
> boxes that will keep track of everything you watch. Coupling that
> information with your address, the software would estimate your age,
> gender, interests and income.
>
> The result? Advertisers could send different commercials to different
> viewers.
>
> ...
>
> It could be years before the technology comes to Canada, but two U.S.
> cable companies are planning to roll it out early next year.
>
> The concept will likely raise red flags from privacy advocates, and its
> implications are enormous.
>
> Advertisers would be able to make sure the right ads are seen by the
> right people, challenging the old industry saying: "I know half my
> advertising dollars are wasted. I just don't know which half."
>
> Leading the charge is Invidi Technologies Corp., which is finalizing
> deals with two U.S. cable companies to install its software and begin
> "hypertargeting" ads early next year.
>
> The company, now based in Princeton, N.J., was founded in Edmonton,
> where half of its engineers are still headquartered.
>
> Invidi president David Downey was in Toronto this week to promote the
> software at a meeting of the Cable and Telecommunications Association
> for Marketing.
>
> It's astounding how quickly and accurately the Invidi software can come
> up with a demographic profile of a household and its members, Mr.
> Downey said during a panel discussion on the topic.
>
> "Our goal is to have this software in every set-top box in the world .
> . ." Mr. Downey said. "There's no one else that's doing what we're
> doing."
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> I am perfectly capable of learning from my mistakes.  I will surely
> learn a great deal today.
>
> "A democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding on what to have for
> lunch.  Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the results of the
> decision." - Benjamin Franklin
>
> "The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they
> be properly armed." --Alexander Hamilton
>
>
>
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