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Comcast Testing Embedded Cameras in your Living Room

Scary new technology out of Comcast's labs according to NewTeeVee

At the Digital Living Room conference today, Gerard Kunkel, Comcast’s senior VP of user experience, told me the cable company is experimenting with different camera technologies built into devices so it can know who’s in your living room. The idea being that if you turn on your cable box, it recognizes you and pulls up shows already in your profile or makes recommendations.

That sure doesn't sound "Comcastic" to me, it sounds more like a frightening privacy invasion for very little gain in convenience. Can't I just rather pick out my profile name when I start up their DVR? [via laboratorium]

by Matt Haughey March 22, 2008 in News

Comments

It becomes a bit more interesting if you think about it using face recognition to spot multiple people and default to a list of content tailored to the mutual tastes of everyone present.

But I agree... I've got no interest in having something like that hooked up to the central office somewhere.

Posted by: Roger Benningfield at Mar 22, 2008 1:57:28 PM

A few years back a television executive claimed PVR users were "stealing" TV by skipping the commercials. People responded by asking if they're also stealing TV when they leave the room during the commercial break.

Someone should tell Comcast's R&D department to not take Internet snark seriously.

Posted by: George Hotelling at Mar 22, 2008 2:06:57 PM

That's insane. I would NOT accept something like that in my own home. Like you said, it's a "frightening" privacy invasion.

Posted by: Raoul Pop at Mar 22, 2008 3:23:25 PM

It's Orwelltastic!

Posted by: David at Mar 22, 2008 5:33:59 PM

No chance in hell. Comcast can kiss my lily white ass.

Posted by: Andrew Riley at Mar 22, 2008 10:38:00 PM

Comcast, meet black vinyl electrical tape.

Gee it's always dark in that room.

Posted by: Comcast, meet at Mar 22, 2008 11:32:40 PM

Just to make you think more, there's probably a camera attached to your phone, and maybe on your computer, right now.

Posted by: Steven Hoober at Mar 24, 2008 12:09:56 PM

Is this the place to insert a lame "In Soviet Russia, tv watches you!"? Yeah, I thought so. Instead of black tape, I'll put a tiny mirror over the camera so they can watch themselves.

The only people who think this is even remotely a good idea aren't the ones being watched.

Posted by: Erik at Mar 24, 2008 12:42:38 PM

This reminds me of the early attempts by Tivo to monitor your recording habits and then would attempt to predict what you wanted to watch. Unfortunately, it would combine the recording habits of everyone in the family and come up with really ridiculous recommendations.

Good idea, but a very poor decision in design.

Dan

Posted by: Daniel J. Doughty at Apr 8, 2008 11:42:35 PM

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