Comcast Wants to Put Cameras In Your Home
Conspiracy theorists are going to have a field day with this story. In fairness, so will just about everybody else. We hope.
Comcast is experimenting with camera technology. More specifically, it trying out technology that turns cable boxes into camera-equipped devices that would utilize body-form-recognition as a means to provide custom-tailored service, and, of course, custom tailored advertising. The boxes would be able to tell who is in the room based on the shape of their body, thus tailoring programming to fit their specific desires and security settings (when children are involved). Facial recognition is not in the works as of yet.
We should be clear: This is all in the experimental phase. There has been no consumer testing and Gerard Kunkel, Comcast's senior VP of user experience, stresses that any final decision is predicated on the boxes providing more to the viewer than just precision advertising.
Custom Tailored. Security. Efficient. Your New Best Friend. Now You Can Leave the Kids At Home With Super Cable Nanny! Those are hypothetical buzz-words and -phrases Comcast will most likely lay on in hearty layers if and when it begins to roll out this new technology.
Honestly, what is your immediate gut reaction when you hear that a massive corporation might want to place cameras that actually track your movements in your own home? We won't say what we think. Trust your gut reaction and don't let any amount of mediocre advertising sway you.
Security. Customization. Blah blah blah.
Gut Instinct.
From NewTeevee (via Rantings of a New Yorker)
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
Benjamin Wright @ Mar 26th 2008 3:42PM
Legally speaking, you and Comcast might be wise to post notices in your living room to warn strangers that a surveillance camera is in use. http://hack-igations.blogspot.com/2008/03/robots-as-keepers-of-legal-records.html
surftexrr@aol.com @ Mar 26th 2008 4:44PM
i simply would not buy the product! havn't had cable since july of 2001 & havn't missed any thing important. people spend too much time in front of the TV & computer. waste of time.
Tom @ Mar 26th 2008 4:56PM
F**k YOU COMSUCK.
SHOVE THE CAMERA UP YOUR ARSE.
Rick @ Mar 26th 2008 7:21PM
surftexrr@aol.com
Right on, I have been saying this for a very long time now.
Turn off the TV, Turn on Life!©
boredwell @ Mar 26th 2008 8:44PM
Not surprised, really. First the Patriot Act, now this. The Act was a platform for this kind of internal personalized spying. How if the recognition of someone tall and thin winds up a basketball player, how will it know it's gender? How will it be able to read variation on that particular "model." And how will it chose which model the tall, thin person belong in. Glad I don't own a TV. Or have comcast. Though the rest of the medium is sure not be left out.
Faith @ Mar 26th 2008 10:55PM
Baaaad Idea i dont want comcast to have cameras in the cable boxes... what's this suposed to do? I mean if you ultra thin does it swtich the channel to alli mcbeal ...or if your way over weight just put on jane austin or something? this is completely stupid..no body wants preched at
Daniel Gaunt @ Mar 27th 2008 4:41AM
advertising carries too much finacial power, I mean I earn lots of money just because people are so keen to show their ads that they pay me to look at them! pathetic
http://freeextras.blogspot.com/
http://lifeorsomethingnotquitelikeit.blogspot.com/
Patty @ Mar 28th 2008 8:19PM
This just tells us that no one is safe even in their own home. It's like everyone is watching. WHY? We don't live in Russia or China where everyone wants to keep an eye on you. We are still Americans I think.
D. Goldman @ Mar 28th 2008 8:28PM
Unbelievable!!! I can't believe that such a stupid reason could be used to allow the invasion of a private residence. They have a better chance of being struck by lightning than to have one of those in my house. No wonder they are making it hard to view television via the airwaves, they're trying to force everyone to go to the "box". Anyone who uses one of those is asking for trouble -- and the need for an attorney to represent them in court, as a defense attorney!!!
zzzzzzzzzz @ Mar 28th 2008 8:29PM
who ever thought of that should be fired....who in the heII would want their t.v. watching them. that is being WAY TOO SUGGESTIVE.why dont they try to add something(new-different shows)people will actually want to watch
Joe @ Mar 28th 2008 8:37PM
Well, another great use for Duck Tape.......covering up that damned camera when they come out :)
Ron @ Mar 28th 2008 8:41PM
Any camera put into a box that comes into my house will get a bit of duct tape over its eye. As far as the principle of some outside "peeping toms" looking into my private space, no matter what the alleged convenience, Comcast can get stuffed.
AMY KEITH @ Mar 28th 2008 8:47PM
HATE COMERCIALS. DON'T WANT THEM TRACKING ME FOR SURE!!!
a_no_body @ Mar 28th 2008 8:49PM
Well, if they want to film me.............I expect payment. Believe me it will be more than the cost of our monthly cable bill!!
l bauer @ Mar 28th 2008 8:52PM
time for Americans to stand up and be heard. we have a right to have privicy in our homes. i am so tired of letting the state, government, schools, ect. tell me what to do. I am and American and I can do a I please as long as I do not hurt another human being. Time to stop being cowards and using politically correct as an excuse.
furman0 @ Mar 28th 2008 8:52PM
alex jones said a cable guy told him they're already in the digital cable boxes.
sweetbabenfl @ Mar 28th 2008 8:59PM
I knew this was going to happen. it's predicted in the bible. next will be the phone. be very careful of what you say. pple will be listening.
Danob @ Mar 28th 2008 9:01PM
I'll never have a camera in my home. Goodbye Comcast.
Dan @ Mar 28th 2008 9:01PM
You people wanted Bush. You got him....
Yachtcare @ Mar 28th 2008 9:05PM
I agree that it is an invasion of privacy, one more of many that are already taking place, and will only get worse. GPS tracking units in your cell phone, On Star in your automobiles, transponders at toll bridges, the list goes on and on. This one seems fairly easy to defeat....Just throw a sheet over the cable box and call it good......