Long Range Eye Tracking for Advertisers 134
holy_calamity writes "A Canadian firm has launched a device that can track the gaze of multiple people from up to 10 metres away. Originally developed at Queen's University, Ontario, they hope to sell it to advertisers to allow them to monitor how many people look at their ads. Admittedly they are trying more benign stuff too like better hearing aids, but I doubt that will make up for movie posters that make a song and dance whenever you glance their way."
RTS (Score:2, Interesting)
Privacy (Score:5, Interesting)
If I decide to sneak a peak at an ad that shows a gay couple.. or shows an ad on how to deal with drug addiction.. will I be labeled as a gay drug addict to that/those companies?
Maybe I should take off my tin foil hat for a bit and get some fresh air.. hopefully I`m just over reacting.
Re:RTS (Score:4, Interesting)
My basic feeling towards your idea is that it's absolutely great for disabled people, but personally I like being able to look at one thing but have my mouse hovering over something else.
Re:So all my paranoid fantasies will come true? (Score:3, Interesting)
"A pair of dark glasses"
s/dark/mirrored/;
Or just walk around with a few laser pointers strapped to your head, lik a shark, and randomly zap the cameras as you stroll along. Just don't look at any airplains or helicopters, or you'll be arrested as a "terr'rist."
(yes, I tested blinding a security camera with a laser pointer. You can easily do it from 10 meters if you can rest your hand on something, like a desk or counter, and "walk" the beam to the camera. It was fun watching the resulting image "bloom").
Better uses (Score:5, Interesting)
Ad space boom at titsandass.com (Score:3, Interesting)
Tried a research prototype a few months ago... (Score:3, Interesting)
The tool needed extensive calibration and only works reliably for people who do not wear glasses. So I think the technology is still a bit away from everyday commercial use.
Even when not wearing glasses, the tool is not very precise. The demo had a male and female speaker. When I tried it, the male presenter complained that I was distracted by looking at the window next to the girl. Of course I was not distracted by the view of the landscape, but by the girl